UPDATE: Poland marks nine years since presidential air crash
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
10.04.2019 10:30
Poland's top officials were on Wednesday taking 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.
Poland's ruling party leader Jarosław Kaczyński (left) takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Warsaw's Piłsudski Square on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
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 held in the Polish capital on Wednesday morning, after which officials laid wreaths and lit 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 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.
President Andrzej Duda in the morning paid tribute to the late presidential couple in the crypt at Wawel Cathedral in the southern city of Kraków where they are laid to rest.
A raft of other events were planned across Poland and abroad throughout the day.
Commemorations in the Polish capital were due to conclude in the evening with a March of Remembrance for the crash victims and speeches by President 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, TVP Info