The expert opinion was prepared and issued by the Institute of Forensic Research in Cracow on the basis of toxicological samples of biological material collected during the post-mortem examination of the crash victims which were turned over by the Russian side in August 2012. The military prosecutors handling the Polish investigation related to the crash received this opinion on March 5 (it must be noted that post-mortem examination of the crash victims were only conducted in Russia and that the coffins of the victims have been sealed in Russia and never allowed to be opened, once in Poland).

Samples belonging to a total of 21 persons

- This opinion clearly shows that both General Andrzej Błasik, as well as the remaining persons covered by the test were sober at the time of their death. (...) The tests performed on samples of crew members, including also the pilots, the Government Protection Bureau officers and selected passengers did not indicate the presence in their organisms of any substances at a concentration that could affect adversely their psychomotor capability, and consequently impair the flight safety – informed the military prosecutor’s office.

Toxicological tests, for the presence of ethyl alcohol, narcotics and carbon monoxide haemoglobin, were comprised of samples belonging to a total of up to 21 persons.

"A shameful attempt at defaming my husband’s memory"

In its final report drawn up in January 2011, the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) stated that Błasik had a blood-alcohol level of about 0.06 percent. The official position and standpoint of the Polish authorities dating back to 2011 in regards to the information contained in the report drawn up by the Interstate Aviation Committee stated that no comments could be made as to information concerning the presence of alcohol in general Błasik’s blood due to "the lack of source documentation". In the opinion of the Polish side it was stated that it may not be ruled out that the alcohol “ascertained during the post-mortem examination could be of an endogenous origin (independently generated by the organism)".

The general’s widow did not agree with the findings made by the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee; she considered this to be "a shameful attempt at defaming my husband’s memory". Bartosz Kownacki, an attorney acting as her plenipotentiary, filed for the verification of assumptions made by the Interstate Aviation Committee to double check the issue of alleged presence of alcohol in Błasik’s blood.

 

- I am really glad that after four years the truth finally came out. I have always known that neither my husband nor any armed forces commanders could have drunk alcohol, because they were on their way to commemorate officers murdered in Katyń. Right from the very beginning I was convinced that the Interstate Aviation Committee’s report was a crude manipulation and a lie. I wish to extend my gratitude to all those who have become involved in the endeavours aimed at discovering the truth, and first of all minister Antoni Macierewicz, as well as scientists from the Institute of Forensic Research in Cracow – said Ewa Błasik

- Yet for the time being I unable to forget that when I was seeking and demanding to find the truth from government members, nobody wanted to listen to me. Neither the minister of national defence, nor the president, Bronisław Komorowski, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, did anything to help to defend my husband in the most difficult times. During my meeting with the president I told him that the officers did not drink any alcohol, that it was necessary to launch a new investigation and establish an international commission to clarify the causes of the Smolensk crash. The president did not respond in any way – she added.

- Now I am told that it is not worthwhile to dwell in the past or take up endeavours at finding out what really happened in Smoleńsk, in 2010. This is not true. Now is the best time to reveal all manipulations connected with the crash and demand the truth. My family and I are very grateful that in the end the lie, which had been continuously repeated for the past four years, has finally been unveiled - added Ewa Błasik.

 

source: niezalezna.pl, Polish Press Agency (PAP)
fot. Maszewski/REPORTER

http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/biegli-gen-blasik-oraz-zaloga-tu-154m-nie-byli-pod-wplywem-alkoholu/vfq9h

 

We strongly recommend the following related reading:

 

Misconceptions - Let's get things straight! http://smolenskcrash.eu/news-57-misconceptions-let39s-get-things-straight.html

Since the first moments after the crash, various efforts were made to cloud the truth about the causes and the course of events of the crash. Here's a brief list.

 

Klich: There was a tendency to tilt towards pilot error http://smolenskcrash.eu/news-18-klich-there-was-a-tendency-to-tilt-towards-pilot-error.html

Former Polish expert accredited to the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) Edmund Klich admitted on RMF FM radio that there was a tendency to direct the investigation into a human error factor and blame the pilots. He complained about the lack of support from the Polish government to those present at the scene in Russia.

 

TNT after all http://smolenskcrash.eu/news-54-tnt-after-all.html

On the 5th of December, Military investigators admitted to Members of Parliament during a sitting of the Justice Committee that detectors traced TNT in the wreckage of the plane.

 

Presence of TNT traces confirmed by relative http://smolenskcrash.eu/news-50-presence-of-tnt-traces-confirmed-by-relative.html

Personal belongings of victim confirm presence of TNT says family member after independent U.S analysis.