Poland marks nine years since presidential air crash
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
10.04.2019 07:30
Poland's top officials were on Wednesday set to take part in events marking the ninth anniversary of a fatal presidential plane crash in Russia—a disaster that scarred the national psyche and is still a source of controversy and recriminations.
The wreckage of the Polish presidential plane shortly after the crash. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/staszewski/CC BY-SA 2.5
Wednesday marked exactly nine years since a Polish plane carrying President Lech Kaczyński, his wife and 94 others, including top political and military figures, crashed near Smolensk, western Russia, killing all those on board.
A memorial service was due to be held on Wednesday, after which officials were expected to lay wreaths and light candles at a statue commemorating President Lech Kaczyński in central Warsaw and at a separate monument unveiled last year to honour all 96 victims of the disaster.
A traditional roll call of honour was scheduled to be held in front of the presidential palace in the Polish capital on Wednesday at 8:41 am, the exact time of the disaster on April 10, 2010.
A raft of other events were planned throughout the day.
Commemorations were due to conclude in the evening with speeches by President Andrzej Duda and Jarosław Kaczyński, the head of Poland’s governing Law and Justice (PiS) party and the late president’s twin.
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR