Russia Mourns for Poland's Loss
- 14 years ago
On Monday, Russia mourned the tragic deaths of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and other high-ranking Polish officials. They died in a plane crash near Smolensk, Russia on Saturday.
[Lily Szyszko, Chairman of the Union of Poles]: (Female, Russian)
"The pain of this loss is incredible, and it is just growing all the time. People realize how great the loss is."
The Polish president and his delegation were on the flight to Katyn, Russia. They were scheduled to attend an event to commemorate the victims of Stalin's repression in 1940. 22,000 Poles were killed by Soviet officers at the time.
[Lily Szyszko, Chairman of the Union of Poles]: (Female, Russian)
"The plane crash certainly adds to the tragedy of the Poles killed in 1940."
Candles were lit up in front of the Polish Consulate in St. Petersburg where people mourned and offered their condolences.
Many of the people there were personally acquainted with first lady Maria Kaczyński. Being a native of St. Petersburg, she was a big supporter of the Poles in the city.
[Eva Roshina, Resident of St. Petersburg]: (Female, Russian)
“It pains me to look at the picture.”
It’s a tragedy for the thousands of Poles living in St. Petersburg, and for the rest of the world.
[Olga Logunova, Resident of St. Petersburg]: (Female, Russian)
"This is, of course, a tragedy for all Polish people. I can hardly believe it. It is hard to think about it, although I am far from Poland and I have no family or friends there.”
The killing of Poles in Katyn ordered by the Soviet government has complicated relations between Poland and Russia for many years.
In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev admitted for the first time that the Polish officers were victims of Stalin’s repression, and that 22,000 were killed.
NTD, St. Petersburg, Russia.
[Lily Szyszko, Chairman of the Union of Poles]: (Female, Russian)
"The pain of this loss is incredible, and it is just growing all the time. People realize how great the loss is."
The Polish president and his delegation were on the flight to Katyn, Russia. They were scheduled to attend an event to commemorate the victims of Stalin's repression in 1940. 22,000 Poles were killed by Soviet officers at the time.
[Lily Szyszko, Chairman of the Union of Poles]: (Female, Russian)
"The plane crash certainly adds to the tragedy of the Poles killed in 1940."
Candles were lit up in front of the Polish Consulate in St. Petersburg where people mourned and offered their condolences.
Many of the people there were personally acquainted with first lady Maria Kaczyński. Being a native of St. Petersburg, she was a big supporter of the Poles in the city.
[Eva Roshina, Resident of St. Petersburg]: (Female, Russian)
“It pains me to look at the picture.”
It’s a tragedy for the thousands of Poles living in St. Petersburg, and for the rest of the world.
[Olga Logunova, Resident of St. Petersburg]: (Female, Russian)
"This is, of course, a tragedy for all Polish people. I can hardly believe it. It is hard to think about it, although I am far from Poland and I have no family or friends there.”
The killing of Poles in Katyn ordered by the Soviet government has complicated relations between Poland and Russia for many years.
In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev admitted for the first time that the Polish officers were victims of Stalin’s repression, and that 22,000 were killed.
NTD, St. Petersburg, Russia.