Defence Minister wants posthumous promotion for Colonel Kukliński

Originally aired on Radio Poland, 2/11.

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Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz appealed to President Andrzej Duda for the posthumous promotion of Colonel Ryszard Kukliński, who passed secret Warsaw pact documents to the CIA during the Cold War.

Thursday, February 11, marks the 12th anniversary of Colonel Ryszard Kukliński’s death. The Polish colonel passed secret documents and informed the CIA of the plans to impose martial law in Poland.

After the introduction of martial law in Poland, Kuklińśki escaped to America with the help of the CIA. He lived in the United States until his death of a stroke in 2004.

“‘This is an obvious expression of gratitude for the man,” said the Minister of Defence Antoni Macierewicz.

“Simply gratitude for the man who devoted his life to the cause of Polish independence and who paid with the lives of his closest family.”