The parliamentary inquiry committee examining visa practices resumed its hearings today with a focus on issues surrounding how foreigners are granted stay in Poland. The first to testify is Maciej Kowalski, formerly an adviser to the Polish embassy in Dakar and currently serving as consul in Tunis. The chair of the commission, Michał Szczerba, indicated that she had been among the officials who attempted to resist interpretations or directives from the then deputy minister of diplomacy, Piotr Wawrzyk.
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In his remarks, Szczerba pointed out a notable inconsistency across documents and testimony. On one hand, Carmain’s letter urged applicants to come to Poland to gain professional experience that could lead to leadership roles in Africa. On the other hand, a separate email suggested these individuals were not expected to develop management competencies, but rather to take on tasks such as picking blueberries. The chairman pressed for clarity on what had emerged from the interviews and interrogations of the applicants about their attempts to obtain a Polish visa and whether Kowalski had met a woman named Dialo.
“I have spoken with several applicants”, Kowalski recalled. “I remember Ms. Dialo because her case was used as an example for the director. It vividly illustrates the types of cases we are dealing with. This visa application included only two attachments — insurance and a work permit — and nothing more.”
“Work permit issued by the voivode? Whose?” the chairman asked.
“Yes, by the Podkarpackie Voivode. Interestingly, the permit named work as a caregiver for an elderly person”, Kowalski replied.
“Certainly, Ms. Dialo, who acted as an informal caregiver for the elderly, did not speak the language required for such a role”, he added.
Next to testify would be Lech Kołakowski, who served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2021 to 2023, as the inquiry continues.
The Commission of Inquiry into the Visa Scandal is investigating alleged abuses, neglect, and omissions in the legalization of foreigners’ stay in Poland, as well as identifying the number and identities of individuals who either illegally crossed the border into Poland or whose stays were legalized due to improper actions. The commission will also assess visa mediation agreements that applied during the period from November 12, 2019, to November 20, 2023.
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