The Polish Digital Affairs Ministry head announced that due to a foreign interference threat, an election protection plan would be presented in January.
"All clubs and all parties that put forward their presidential candidates will be invited to cooperate. There should be full transparency, full accountability, no censorship, and above all - stern opposition to Russian influence, because today the Russians want to skew the Polish election result".
- Krzysztof Gawkowski emphasised.
The minister informed that there are signs that Russian intelligence aims to carry out tasks and projects in cyberspace that would influence the election campaign in Poland.
"Russian services have begun online search for Poles living in the country, willing to engage in dirty work for a foreign intelligence service, aimed at influencing the Polish elections"
- the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out. Such offers - he added - started to appear on the so-called darknet, and come with a significant financial lure.
"I'm telling you about this, as I wanted to warn everyone - because such an open online recruitment for the goal of interfering with the election has never before been noted in Polish history" - Krzysztof Gawkowski emphasized. As he reminded - any relationship with a foreign intelligence service is punishable by imprisonment, and even a seemingly insignificant entry into relations with Russian services is de facto espionage.
The Minister informed that Poland is cooperating with American institutions on that issue, and that reports on the scale of this phenomenon are likely to be published before the end of January. "To put it simply - Poland is in a cyber war with Russia, which must be stopped at all costs" - Krzysztof Gawkowski concluded.
Poland's upcoming presidential elections are scheduled for May 18, 2025.
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Source: PAP