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Polish MPs probe claims of spyware misuse

19.02.2024 23:00
A Polish parliamentary commission on Monday began investigating claims that the previous government illegally hacked the phones of political opponents using Pegasus spyware.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Tomasz Gzell

The commission's head, Magdalena Sroka, told reporters that the panel's first meeting was "quite efficient."

She added that the MPs aim to question witnesses including conservative leader Jarosław Kaczyński, who she suggested should be among the first to appear before the commission.

"We know that the most important decisions were made at Kaczyński's office on Warsaw's Nowogrodzka Street, so we want him to testify under oath and tells us what he knows about Pegasus," Sroka said.

During Monday's meeting, the panel appointed 15 permanent advisors, adopted a work plan, submitted requests for evidence and voted on a list of potential witnesses, who include former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and ex-Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Marcin Bosacki, a commission member representing the governing Civic Coalition (KO) group, said earlier this month that the most prominent politicians from the previously governing Law and Justice party (PiS) "will have to testify before the commission and explain how the Pegasus spyware was purchased" and "why it was used against political opponents."

Leftist lawmaker Tomasz Trela has said that the inquiry could help uncover "one of the biggest scandals in Poland since 1989."

Pegasus spyware is intended for tracking terrorists and major criminals, the PAP news agency reported.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP