The plaque commemorating the victims of the Smolensk catastrophe, which was replaced before its one year anniversary by Russian authorities, has been returned to Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Polish Radio managed to confirm the information with Marcin Bosacki, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Friday morning.

There was outcry in Poland when it was discovered that on the eve of the anniversary, 10 April, Russian authorities had altered the wording on the memorial tablet.

The public backlash stems from the fact that a reference to the 1940 Katyn massacre – the anniversary of which inspired President Kaczynski’s flight to Smolensk last year – was removed by the Russians, and a new plaque hastily installed.

Nevertheless, the Russian Foreign Office holds that it informed Poland in advance that the plaque was going to be altered. (jb)