The Brussels Times: Federation of Katyn families criticize Council President Donald Tusk on handling of Smolensk aircraft crash

The Federation of Katyn Families has asked for a review of the investigation of the aircraft crash outside Smolensk, Russia, in 2010. In the crash 96 people, incl. the Polish president, lost their lives.

The passengers were on their way from Warsaw to attend an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre by the Stalinist regime during the Second World War.

The Federation which organizes relatives of the victims in the Katyn massacre is supported by the preliminary findings of the British air crash investigator Frank Taylor who found inconsistencies and omissions in the official investigation of the crash.

Mr Taylor confirmed to The Brussels Times that at the request of the Federation he carried out a preliminary review based on the accident reports available in English via the database of the Aviation Safety Network.

In light of the findings of the British expert, the Federation is of the opinion that EU Council President Donald Tusk, former Prime Minister of Poland, mismanaged the investigation and prevented the relatives of the victims from knowing the full truth about the crash.

In a letter to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Federation is demanding an inquiry as to whether Mr Tusk’s decisions during his term as Polish prime minister concerning the tragic air crash were in line with the ethical standards expected from EU´s most senior officials.

It remains to be seen if such an inquiry will take place. A demand for a committee of inquiry on tax evasion (“Lux leaks”) in Luxembourg during Juncker’s time as Prime Minister was blocked by the European Parliament.

M.Apelblat
The Brussels Times
source: http://brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/3726/relatives-of-victims-of-smolensk-aircraft-crash-criticize-council-president-donald-tusk