Events around Poland mark Smolensk-crash anniversary

On Sunday, protesters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Warsaw to appeal for the return of the wreckage to Poland.

“You will see that not only will the wreck return, but Putin will be here in handcuffs and will have to answer for what he did in Smolensk,” said Tomasz Sakiewicz, the editor-in-chief of the Gazeta Polska weekly, which organised the event.

Despite dozens of requests from Warsaw, Russia has refused to return the wreckage of the plane to Poland.

Also on Sunday, wreaths were placed at the foot of a plaque dedicated to the crash victims in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw.

“On the eve of the seventh anniversary of the Smolensk tragedy we will commence nationwide celebrations, which will be an expression of remembrance and tribute to those who died on 10 April, 2010,” said Jan Józef Kasprzyk, the acting head of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression.

All of the 96 people aboard the plane died in the crash, as the aircraft was attempting to land in foggy conditions at the Smolensk military airport in western Russia.

Among the dead were President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria, former President of Poland in exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski, the chief of the Polish General Staff, the head of the National Bank of Poland, as well as other senior political, military and clerical officials. (rg)