Posted on 04/10/2010 2:23:58 PM PDT by lizol
Russia to hold day of mourning after Polish president's death
18:1210/04/2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced on Saturday a national day of mourning after President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and an official delegation of senior officials were killed in a plane crash in western Russia.
"On behalf of the Russian people, I express the deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the Polish people, and compassion and support to the relatives and friends of the victims," Medvedev said, addressing the Polish people.
"On Monday, April 12, Russia will hold a national day of mourning."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are currently on their way to the site of the crash.
The Soviet-made Tu-154 hit trees as it approached Smolensk airport in thick fog.
Kaczynski was on his way to a ceremony in Katyn to commemorate the memory of some 20,000 Polish officers killed by Soviet troops during World War Two.
A whole day? really?
Your entire top brass and government has been wiped out under weird circumstances and your going to mourn for a day?
I thought that said Poland.
Ping
I hope the remaining leaders of Poland don’t take them up on an invite to participate in any “mourning” ceremonies.
The Russians are well known for their sympathy of other nations losses.
No worries ... Putin is heading the investigation. What could go wrong?
BTW, this must be a terrible time and I hope enough leadership is in place to keep the peace. This is a horrific event and the citizens will do well to stay together. My prayers to the Polish Nation.
What’s the local situation in Poland today? What’s the status on the claim that the pilot failed to obey the ATC directive to re-route the flight amidst the thick fog? Is this still valid?
I wonder if Poland will lower it’s flags for a year.
This is an almost unfathomable tragedy. A risk that should never have been taken.
Actually - at the moment the people, the media, the politicians in Poland are busy with mourning rather than with looking for the cause of the crash.
Such questions will be asked probably after couple of days.
I am wondering if the plane had voice activated black box that we will ever get to hear.
Geeze!!! What a tragedy.
The newsers are greedily accepting, reporting and pushing this was an accident. Very hasty conclusion considering the make and make up of the plane, the great responsibility of the Pilot and in advanced of any real investigation. Seems rather convenient.
The President of Poland and many cabinet members including the Chief of the Airforce, the Chief of the Army Staff, Commander of the Polish Navy, President of the National Bank, Head of the National Security Bureau, Secretary of State in the Office
What a target rich list.
The National leadership wiped out?
The Pilot carrying such important people arrogantly risked his life and those of the most important people of Poland by attempting to land even though Ground Control told them the airport is closed to traffic due to fog and directed them to Moscow or another city?
What pilot would do that and do so with the very important people on board. His and their safety is paramount.
The president, his wife and entourage were en-route to a memorial service for the victims of the Katyn massacre which, in 1940, saw thousands of Polish prisoners of war murdered (primarily military officers), intellectuals, policemen, and other public servants by the Soviet NKVD
That would not be embarrassing to Russia. No not all.
A former Soviet Pilot state commemorating the deaths of 20,000 of their own people at the hand of the Russians? Why not have a keg a party as well.
Poland watched in horror as the Russians, once again invaded another Soviet Pilot State, Georgia and desperately sought a missile defense system and membership in NATO for protection.
Russia and Obama fixed that little problem by having the missile defense scrapped to appease Russian demands that they not be deployed. Wonder why?
Killed:
The President: Lech Kaczynski. Part of the Solidarity Movement
His Wife: Maria Kaczynski
The National Bank President: Slawomir Skrzypek
The Army Chief of Staff: Gen. Franciszek Gagor
Ryszard Kaczorowski, Polish Statesman and last President in exile during Solidarity
The Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremoer
Anna Walentynowicz, whose firing in August 1980 from the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk sparked a workers' strike that spurred the eventual creation of the Solidarity freedom movement.
96 Souls lost aboard the President's Plane
The President: Lech Kaczynski. Part of the Solidarity Movement
His Wife: Maria Kaczynski
The National Bank President: Slawomir Skrzypek
The Army Chief of Staff: Gen. Franciszek Gagor
Ryszard Kaczorowski, Polish Statesman and last President in exile during Solidarity
The Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremoer
* Andrzej Błasik, Chief of the Polish Air Force
* Krystyna Bochenek, Deputy Speaker of the Senatee
* Archbishop Miron Chodakowski, Orthodox Ordinary of the Polish Army
* Leszek Deptuła, member of the Sejm
* Grzegorz Dolniak, member of the Sejm
* Janina Fetlińska, member of the Senate
* General Franciszek Gągor, Chief of the Polish Army General Staff
* Grażyna Gęsicka, member of the Sejm
* Przemysław Gosiewski, member of the Sejm
* Mariusz Handzlik, Undersecretary of State in the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
* Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, member of the Sejm
* Sebastian Karpiniuk, member of the Sejm
* Vice Admiral Andrzej Karweta, Commander-in-chief of the Polish Navy
* Janusz Kochanowski, Polish Ombudsman for Citizen Rights
* Janusz Kurtyka, Historian and president of the Institute of National Remembrance
* Aleksandra Natalli-Świat, member of the Sejm
* Piotr Nurowski, President of the Polish Olympic Committee
* Maciej Płażyński, President of the Polish Community Association
* Tadeusz Płoski, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Polish Army
* Krzysztof Putra, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm
* Andrzej Przewoźnik, Secretary-General of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites
* Ryszard Rumianek, Rector of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University
* Arkadiusz Rybicki, member of the Sejm
* Sławomir Skrzypek, President of the National Bank of Poland
* Władysław Stasiak, Chief of the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
* Aleksander Szczygło, head of the National Security Bureau
* Jerzy Szmajdziński, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm
* Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, member of the Sejm
* Anna Walentynowicz, free trade union activist, member of Solidarity
* Zbigniew Wassermann, member of the Sejm
* Wiesław Woda, member of the Sejm
* Edward Wojtas, member of the Sejm
* Paweł Wypych, Secretary of State in the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
* Stanisław Zając, member of the Senate
Andrzej Przewoźnik, Secretary-General of Rada Ochrony Pamięci Walk i Męczeństwa
and several members of the Sejm. Sławomir Skrzypek
The plane was refurbished and repaired last year, according to the general director of the company that performed the service. Alexei Gusev, the general director of Aviakor Factory, told CNN that the plane received major refurbishing and repair in December 2009.
Symptomatically...
Read the Post...The RUSSIANS are calling for a day of mourning,it was the Polish leadership that was wiped out.
What do we know about this pilot?
And why the heck did they all use the SAME plane???
crocodile tears.
Reports from earlier in the days said that both Black Boxes were recovered. I don’t know who has custody of it, but if I was a Pole. I would want them back untampered with..
Putin got there first.
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