The fight against misinformation threats on the part of Russia and Belarus was insufficient, ad hoc, inconsistent, frequently simulated – the committee on the examination of Russian and Belarusian influences established. Headed by Brig. Gen. Dr. Jarosław Stróżyk, Head of Military Counterintelligence Service, he besides announced a announcement to the D.A. on the liquidation of ABW Delegations.
Commission for the survey of Russian and Belarusian Influences presented the conclusions of the disinformation squad report. Experts have received almost 2,000 public and classified documents, including a ‘closely secret’ clause. As reported in the report, nearly 17,000 pages were analysed. The proposals were identified as alarming. prof. Adam Leszczyński, a sociologist and historian, stressed that actions aimed at weakening the Polish state were revealed. The study shows that Russia is conducting a long-term cognitive war against Poland with the aid of Belarus. These are hostile disinformation actions that are intended to increase social polarisation and the demolition of assurance in democratic structures and, as a result, the disintegration of the West.
The experts of the committee emphasize that in Russia, the cognitive war is an officially recognized form of conducting war operations, for which it seems to be between $2 and $4 billion a year. – Against this, the Polish state raised disproportionate resources and its activities were chaotic – indicated during the presentation of the report. As reported, it was a mistake to resign in 2016 from the establishment of the Cyber safety Department in the interior safety Agency. It was only in 2019 that the strategical Communication Paper was created in the MFA, which consisted of only 3 employees. According to experts, the analytical possible of the Department of Combating Disinformation NASK has not been exploited. A government typical for safety of the information space of the Republic of Poland appointed in 2022 did not fulfil its function in the area of designation and control of misinformation. Meanwhile, as indicated, the proxy study contains information about, for example, analysis of political opposition narratives in Poland, especially parliamentary and independent media.
Gen. Jarosław Stróżyk, president of the Committee on the survey of Russian and Belarusian Influences, besides reported that in the coming days the committee would submit a announcement to the prosecutor regarding the liquidation of the interior safety Agency Delegations. A fewer months ago, the general announced that in 2017, 10 of the 15 ABW field delegations were liquidated, which importantly reduced the Agency's operational capabilities. As a result, the staff decreased even by half. Since last year, ABW has had delegations in all voivodships.
The study presented on Friday besides includes recommendations. According to the committee, the public authorities should cooperate with the media, including in crisis situations "to prevent the alleged information gap". "Give access to direct witnesses of events and to uncensored visual materials. According to the committee, there is besides nothing in the way that the services print public reports on misinformation," the authors of the paper indicate. The migration crisis at the border with Belarus is an example of a misstep.
The Commission for the survey of Russian and Belarusian Influences 2004–2024 is an auxiliary body of the Prime Minister. It consists of 11 specialists, in addition to the chairman. They are not investigating or questioning witnesses. Their task is to analyse state documents, technological materials and expert studies. The aim is to make a comprehensive image of Russian and Belarusian influences in various spheres of public life in Poland. The Commission's work is ongoing. Another study will be submitted in March.
