HFHR statement

On May 27, 2011, an official visit to Poland of the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, commences. In reference to this upcoming event, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights highlights the issue of the alleged existence of secret facilities of the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) on the Polish territory where terrorist suspects were detained, interrogated and tortured. To date, this case remains unexplained, and as such, HFHR believes that it constitutes one of the most significant issues in US - Polish relations.

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After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, within the framework of the ‘war on terror’, approved a secret interrogation program. This program involved a considerable number of countries in all parts of the world where secret detention facilities were located in which terrorist suspects were tortured. It is commonly believed that such a secret prison was operated in, among others, Poland.

In 2010 it recommended that Poland should pursue an expedient, impartial, comprehensive and efficient investigation, the findings of which ought to be made public. The investigation regarding Poland’s involvement in the extraordinary rendition program has been pending since 2008. Due to the multilevel and international character of the case, it is indispensible that Polish prosecutors are provided with legal assistance by American authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). However, on October 7, 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that no such assistance would be granted due to national security or other state interests and that they considered the case to be closed. The HFHR believes that the American authorities by denying the request made highly impossible clarification of the case in full and comprehensive way.

HFHR appeals to the Polish Government to ask President Barack Obama for necessary assistance in the case. At the same time HFHR calls the President Barack Obama to provide all requested information crucial for explanation of these allegations.

See also the attached version of statement in doc format.

2011-05-25