Czarzasty's connection with Swietłana Czestnych dates back to 2005, when Czarzasty and his wife ran the Muza publishing house, state news agency PAP reported, citing sources it did not name from the Polish parliament's office.
The company issued two books about Poland's royal hunting residences co-written by Czestnych, who also holds Polish citizenship. Her co-author was Michał Słoniewski.
Czarzasty and Słoniewski established a company to run the luxury Hotel Mościcki in Spała, central Poland.
Sources quoted by the PAP news agency say Czestnych attended events at the hotel and spoke briefly with Czarzasty on one occasion – a conversation lasting "perhaps 15 minutes."
In 2019, when Muza wanted to sell its stake in the hotel company, Czestnych purchased a share for PLN 2.5 million (EUR 580,000 at the time).
The State Forests Authority had first purchase rights but declined to buy.
The report comes after Polish President Karol Nawrocki and his aides said that Czarzasty's alleged "social and business ties" to Russia should be examined at a National Security Council meeting on February 11.
Marcin Przydacz, head of the president's International Policy Office, said media reports suggest Czestnych "is connected somewhere with decision-making centres in Russia," though he did not provide details.
Czarzasty told reporters on Wednesday that all his contacts "have been checked from beginning to end and there is no trace of anything improper."
Poland's security services have confirmed he has access to the highest level of classified information and there are "no reservations" about his security clearance.
(ał)
Source: PAP