Chief of Poland's Military Counterintelligence Service - Gen. Maciej Materka - has resigned from office. This is yet another resignation of a key state figure responsible for the country's security - head of Foreign Intelligence Agency Piotr Krawczyk stepped down in August, whereas National Security Bureau chief Paweł Soloch - in October.
General Maciej Materka became chief of Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) on January 8, 2018, shortly after Mariusz Błaszczak had been appointed defence minister.
"After nearly 5 years of work in this position I leave the Service complete, well-equipped, and excellently prepared to carry out its statutory tasks, and most importantly to face the present dangers and challenges," Gen. Materka said in a special statement published on the SKW website.
He would not reveal about reasons for his decision, but unofficial information regarding a sudden deterioration of his relations with minister Błaszczak have been circulating between political spheres for nearly two weeks. "It's a result of a tough infighting happening at very core of PiS," a special services officer told tvn24.pl.
"Bd news in the context of war in Ukraine"
According to Gen. Materka's statement, he is leaving the service in excellent condition. "During all this time the Service established and tightened relations with foreign partners, which largely stimulated growth of its potential in terms of counterintelligence, operational, and cybersecurity cooperation. The SKW largely increased its activity in allied operations and contribution in NATO," the general wrote.
"If it's so great, then why the dismissal? We are humiliating ourselves in the eyes of allies, in times of real danger and ongoing war behind our closest border," said Marek Biernacki, former special services coordinator and current member of parliamentary committee on special services.
"Another important person from the security sector departs. This is bad news in the context of the war in Ukraine and teh SKW's role in ensuring safety of Polish Armed Forces. It raises many questions and pertains to a person whose professionalism has never been questioned by anyone before. We have a crisis in the services in the worst possible moment," said former defence minister and deputy prime minister Tomasz Siemoniak.
One of the former chiefs of counterintelligence said: "There's plenty of information known only to the service chief. He's the one who's in direct contact with partners. It's ridiculous to change leadership now".
Yet another dismissal
Materka's is yet another resignation of a key state figure responsible for the country's security - head of Foreign Intelligence Agency Piotr Krawczyk stepped down in August, whereas National Security Bureau chief Paweł Soloch - in October.
Piotr Krawczyk said he stepped down due to personal reasons, but tvn24.pl had learned beforehand that the direct reason was the death and expedited cremation of the body of arms and ventilator dealer Andrzej Izdebski, and circumstances surrounding his passing.
Paweł Soloch also mentioned personal reasons when announcing his resignation and added it was all discussed and agreed with president Andrzej Duda.
In both cases the public opinion heard laconic statements regarding the reasons for resignation. "PiS was supposed to strong in the field of security. Meanwhile, it turns out it's helpless in this sector as well and focused on an obscure fight for power," Marek Biernacki added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl