Polish cash-for-visa scandal

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The Polish cash-for-visa scandal (Polish: afera wizowa, lit. 'visa affair', also called: Polish: mafia wizowa, lit. 'visa mafia') was a political scandal concerning alleged corruption in the granting of travel visas by officials of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish consular service.[1][2] The majority of recipients left Poland for other Schengen Area countries or for North America.[3] According to critics, up to 350,000 visas may have been illegally issued in return for bribes.[4]

The scheme[edit]

The alleged scheme, which was uncovered through investigative reporting, involves potential migrants paying an intermediary and then being granted visas more quickly than usual and with only cursory checks. As Poland is a member of the Schengen Area, a recipient of a Polish visa can move on to other Schengen Area countries.[5]

Polish consulates are alleged to have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists of names who were to be issued entry visas to Poland without further checks.[6] Immigrants with visas issued in this way travelled first to Poland before moving on to other Schengen Area countries, the United States, or other countries of the global north, posing as tourist groups or Bollywood film crews.[7] People reportedly paid up to $45,000 for a Polish visa and transfer to the United States.[2]

Statisticians estimated that up to 350,000 visas may have been illegally issued in return for bribes since 2021[8] in India,[9] The Philippines,[9] Singapore,[9] Hong Kong,[9] Taiwan,[9] UAE,[10] Qatar,[10] and elsewhere.[10][9] The visas were openly advertised on social media platforms such as TikTok.[11]

On 19 September 2023, Civic Platform opposition MP Michał Szczerba revealed alleged documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating that the Polish embassy in Minsk issued 784,173 visas to individuals from 65 countries (including 1,481 visas issued to people from countries other than Belarus, Russia and Ukraine) with the assistance of a Moscow-based company.[12] Szczerba further claimed that those issued visas include people who were previously pushed back from the border during the Belarus–European Union border crisis.[12]

Work visas[edit]

In 2022, Poland gave out the largest amount of "initial stay" visas within the entire European Union, officially almost 700,000 in total.[13] Work visas accounted for almost 3/5 of all visas given out by Poland, and Poland gave out every third work visa in the entire European Union.[14]

According to calculations from the Lewiatan Confederation (Konfederacji Lewiatan) and Wyborcza Magazine and based in data from Poland's state Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) (Zakładu Ubezpieczeń Społecznych) and the Eurostat (Europejskiego Urzędu Statystycznego), by late 2022 approximately 80,000 Polish beneficiary visa recipients were not currently working nor conducting business practices within Poland. In 2021, almost 150,000 of these visa-holders were not registered with the ZUS, despite having a valid work visa.[14]

Arrests[edit]

Seven people were initially charged, with three being placed under temporary detention.[5] None of them were state officials.[15] Edgar K., one of former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Piotr Wawrzyk's aides and one of the key persons in the scheme, decided to testify against his colleagues in return for a reduced sentence.[16]

Consequences[edit]

The right wing nationalist Law and Justice ruling party has long espoused a strong anti-immigrant rhetoric, frequently claiming that Poland would be overrun by illegal immigrants if the opposition came to power.[17] The scandal at the time was said by political scientists to have hurt its chances in the upcoming election in November 2023,[18][19] as opposition parties had said that the Law and Justice party was complicit.[20] The lost votes for its United Right coalition was said to potentially transfer even further to the far-right to the Confederation party.[21]

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Piotr Wawrzyk, dismissed by Mateusz Morawiecki on 31 August, has been accused of playing a key role in the scheme, with his dismissal believed to be related to the scandal.[22] Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau was also claimed by opposition members to have given his consent to the scheme.[23]

On 14 September, Wawrzyk was hospitalized in a life-threatening condition after what was believed to be a suicide attempt. He reportedly mentioned the scandal in a suicide note, claiming that "[he] did nothing wrong, he wanted to help people regardless of their political affiliation and paid the highest price for it" and that "he is not a briber".[24]

The Polish government cancelled its contracts with private companies for visa processing and fired the head of its legal and compliance department.[25]

On 17 January 2024 the Central Anticorruption Bureau detained Wawrzyk and charged him with accepting bribes. He was released on a 100,000 PLN bail, denying involvement in the scandal.[26][27][28]

Reactions[edit]

The Polish prosecutor's office, headed by Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, responded in a statement blaming the leader of the opposition and Civic Platform Donald Tusk accusing him of "falsehoods" and "unrelated findings".[29] President Andrzej Duda said he was awaiting the results of an investigation before commenting[30] but that "at least some of the information in the media is untrue".[31] Zbigniew Rau responded that he thought the claims were "vastly exaggerated".[32]

Polish state media (such as Telewizja Polska, Polskie Radio, and Orlen-owned print media), which had become a de facto mouthpiece for the ruling party since controversial media legislation was passed shortly after they took power,[33][34] focused on other issues, such as the spike in migrant arrivals on the Italian island of Lampedusa,[35] or avoided reporting the news altogether.[36]

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded an explanation from the Polish government.[37] German chancellor Olaf Scholz blamed Poland for the increased immigration to Germany[38] and has threatened to reinstate border controls at the border between the two Schengen zone countries.[39]

The European Commission demanded an explanation from the Polish government concerning the granting of Schengen visas by Poland and stated that they expect a response to be given within two weeks.[40] The initial response from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was deemed inadequate and to have not answered all the requested questions.[41][42]

Locals in Kampala, Uganda protested in front of the Polish consulate due to not receiving visas they previously had paid for.[43]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Szczęśniak, Agata. "Na czym polega "afera wizowa"?" [What is the visa scandal?]. oko.press (in Polish). Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Stankiewicz, Andrzej (14 September 2023). "Wawrzyk, Bollywood i specsłużby USA. Ujawniamy kulisy afery wizowej". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ Bartosz T. Wieliński, Afera wizowa. Polska zaczęła zagrażać sąsiadom [Visagate. Poland has begun to threaten its neighbours.], Gazeta Wyborcza, archived from the original on 26 September 2023, retrieved 24 September 2023
  4. ^ "10 faktów na temat afery wizowej, które trzeba znać" [10 facts that must be known about visagate]. onet.pl (in Polish). Onet Wiadomości. 14 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Charlish, Alan (14 September 2023). "Seven charged in Polish visa irregularity probe, prosecutor says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  6. ^ ""Filmowcy Wawrzyka" i wielka afera wizowa w MSZ. "Ośmiornica PiS"" ["Wawrzyk's filmmakers" and the great visagate in the MFA. "The long arms of PiS"] (in Polish). Rzeczypospolita. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Afera w MSZ, posłowie z kolejną kontrolą. "Rzeczpospolita": pośrednik ze znajomościami w resorcie usłyszał zarzuty" [Scandal at the MFA, MP's with another check. Rzeczpospolita: intermediary with connections in the resort has been charged] (in Polish). TVN24. 11 September 2023. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  8. ^ Skolimowski, Piotr (16 September 2023). "Cash-For-Visa Scandal Hits Polish Ruling Party Before Election". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "'Cash-for visas' scandal hits Poland's anti-migration government ahead of October election". South China Morning Post. Associated Press. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Afera wizowa. Jest komunikat prokuratury krajowej" [Visagate. There is a statement from the national prosecution office] (in Polish). Polsat News. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Afera wizowa w MSZ. Nagrania z pozwoleniami zalały sieć" [Visagate in the MFA Recordings with permits have flooded the net.]. onet.pl (in Polish). Onet Wiadomości. 14 September 2023. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b Andrzej Grochowina (19 September 2023). "Polska ambasada na Białorusi hojnie wydawała wizy. Dostali je obywatele 65 krajów. Poprzez firmę z Rosji" [Polish embassy in Belarus generously granted visas. Citizens of 65 countries received them. Through a company in Russia]. MSN (in Polish). Gazeta.pl. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. ^ After Germany (540,000 visas) and followed by Spain (460,000 visas).
  14. ^ a b Pawłowska, Danuta (9 September 2023). "Afera wizowa. Pracuje u nas mniej osób, niż ma wizy, reszta mogła wyjechać dalej". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  15. ^ Monika Ścisłowska (14 September 2023). "A cash-for visas scandal hits Poland's strongly anti-migration government, weeks before elections". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ^ ŁGa (22 September 2023). "Afera wizowa. Edgar K. idzie na współpracę i obciąża współpracowników" [Visagate. Edgar K. collaborates and burdens his work colleagues]. onet.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  17. ^ Bloomberg News (16 September 2023). "Cash-for-visa scandal hits Polish ruling party before election". Luxembourg Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Polish government hit by cash-for-visas scandal". dw.com. Deutsche Welle. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Poland's ruling party under pressure over broadening visa scandal". Financial Times. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Poland: Government under pressure over escalating cash for visas scandal". BBC News. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  21. ^ Rob Schmitz (18 September 2023). "What we know about the visa scandal in Poland". NPR. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Poland is shaken by reports that consular officials took bribes to help migrants enter Europe and US". AP News. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Polish visa row heats up as opposition claims government knew of irregularities". Reuters. 13 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Piotr Wawrzyk, były wiceminister spraw zagranicznych, trafił do szpitala. Media: Jego stan jest bardzo poważny" [Piotr Warzyk, former deputy minister of foreign affairs, has landed in hospital. Media: His condition is very serious]. eska.pl (in Polish). Radio Eska. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Visas-for-bribes scandal rocks Poland's anti-immigrant government before election". Politico. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  26. ^ Starcevic, Seb (18 January 2024). "Former Polish minister arrested in cash-for-visas probe". Politico. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  27. ^ Wong, Ashley (18 January 2024). "Poland anti-corruption agency detains former minister for role in visa payment scandal". Jurist. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Były wiceminister spraw zagranicznych zatrzymany przez CBA. Nie przyznał się do winy". TVN24 (in Polish). 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  29. ^ Wojciech Kość (11 September 2023). "Poland's government under fire after reports of cash-for-visas scheme". politico.eu. Politico. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Cash-for visas scandal hits Poland's anti-migration government". The Jamaica Gleamer. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  31. ^ Monika Ścisłowska (14 September 2023). "A cash-for visas scandal hits Poland's strongly anti-migration government, weeks before elections". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  32. ^ Liam Nolan (18 September 2023). "Polish investigation into alleged cash for visas case". RTÉ.ie. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  33. ^ Tworzecki, Hubert (2019). "Poland: A Case of Top-Down Polarization". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 681 (1): 97–119. doi:10.1177/0002716218809322. S2CID 149662184. Lacking the two-thirds of majority needed to change the constitution outright, as Hungary's government had done several years earlier, PiS sought to accomplish the same goal through ordinary legislation. When the Constitutional Tribunal objected, its rulings were ignored until it could be packed with government supporters, some of whom were sworn in by the president—a strong partisan of PiS himself, who made no effort to stand in the government's way—in a rushed, middle-of-the-night ceremony. The national legislature was likewise turned into a rubber-stamp body through routine side-stepping of parliamentary procedure.
  34. ^ Zawadzka, Z (17 December 2018). "Polish Productions about Polish Problems". In Robson, Peter; Schulz, Jennifer L. (eds.). Ethnicity, Gender, and Diversity: Law and Justice on TV. Lexington Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4985-7291-0. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. On January 7, 2016, the amendment of the Radio and Television Act of December 29, 1992 was signed into law, enabling the conservative government to control the state media.; "Poland". RSF. Reporters without borders. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020. Partisan discourse and hate speech are still the rule within state-owned media, which have been transformed into government propaganda mouthpieces. Their new directors tolerate neither opposition nor neutrality from employees and fire those who refuse to comply.; Surowiec, Paweł; Kania-Lundholm, Magdalena; Winiarska-Brodowska, Małgorzata (2020). "Towards illiberal conditioning? New politics of media regulations in Poland (2015–2018)". East European Politics. 36 (1): 27–43. doi:10.1080/21599165.2019.1608826. S2CID 164430720. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Polish opposition calls for answers as cash for visas scandal grows". Reuters. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Cała Polska mówi o aferze wizowej. Tymczasem "Wiadomości" TVP..." [The whole of Poland is talking about visagate. Meanwhile TVP's "The News"...]. onet.pl. Onet. 14 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Afera wizowa. MSW Niemiec domaga się wyjaśnień od Warszawy" [Visagate. MFA of Germany demand an explanation], dw.com (in Polish), Deutsche Welle, 18 September 2023, archived from the original on 21 September 2023, retrieved 24 September 2023
  38. ^ Olaf Scholz wini Polskę za większą migrację do Niemiec [Olaf Scholz blames Poland for bigger migration to Germany] (in Polish), Business Insider, 24 September 2023, archived from the original on 24 September 2023, retrieved 24 September 2023
  39. ^ Afera wizowa w Polsce. Kanclerz Niemiec grozi kontrolami na granicy. Apeluje do rządu [Visagate in Poland. The chancellor of Germany threatens border controls. Appeals to the government] (in Polish), Business Insider, 24 September 2023, archived from the original on 24 September 2023, retrieved 24 September 2023
  40. ^ Piotr Drabik (20 September 2023), "Komisja Europejska reaguje na "aferę wizową" w Polsce. Jest komunikat" [The European Commission reacts to "visagate" in Poland. There is a message], radiozet.pl (in Polish), Radio Zet, archived from the original on 26 September 2023, retrieved 24 September 2023
  41. ^ Mincer, Tomasz (22 September 2023). "Afera wizowa. Komisja Europejska oczekuje od Polski kolejnych informacji" [Visagate. The European Commission expects additional information from Poland]. dziennik.pl (in Polish). Dziennik Polska. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  42. ^ "MafiaWizowa.info". MafiaWizowa.info (in Polish). Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  43. ^ ŁGa (25 September 2023). "W Ugandzie protestują przed polskim konsulatem. "Sprzedałem ziemię, by dostać się do Polski"" [In Uganda they are protesting in front of the Polish consulate. "I sold land, in order to get to Poland"]. onet.pl. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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