‘Cash-for visas’ scandal hits Poland’s anti-migration government ahead of October election
- Reports allege Polish consulates issued some 250,000 visas to migrants from Asia and Africa since 2021 in return for bribes
- Official says irregularities in the issuance of Polish work visas in India, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere were being investigated
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said he was awaiting the results of an investigation into allegations that Polish consulates sold temporary work visas to migrants for thousands of dollars, just weeks before the strongly anti-migration ruling party seeks re-election for a third term.
Media reports allege Poland’s consular sections issued some 250,000 visas to migrants from Asia and Africa since 2021 in return for bribes.
Asked about the reports, Duda said he could “not disclose the details related to my knowledge about the suspicions of such practices”.
He said he was waiting for the result of the investigation, adding that “according to my knowledge, at least some of the information in the media is untrue”.
The deputy foreign minister in charge of consular matters, Piotr Wawrzyk, was unexpectedly fired last month as the first reports of the scandal appeared in the media.
Prosecutors and the state Anti-Corruption Office said on Thursday that seven people – none of them state officials – had been detained on suspicion of corruption in the process of issuing a few hundred temporary work visas.