Polish CIA prisons probe to be prolonged again?

The deadline for the completion of the probe – already extended several times – is 11 April.

The investigation was launched in 2008 and Poland has been repeatedly criticised for dragging its heels on the matter.

A "black site" for suspected terrorists was allegedly created at a military facility in Stare Kiejkuty, northern Poland, following the launch of the so-called "War on Terror".

Besides the matter of whether Poland hosted such a site, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Kraków is also investigating whether Polish authorities consented to torture being applied.

To date, Polish officials have made contradictory statements on the supposed black site.

In December 2014, a US Senate report on CIA torture appeared to confirm that Poland, among other countries was involved.

The publication of a summarised, yet redacted version of the report, indicated that torture had been carrried out at CIA prisons in Europe.

The release of the summary prompted former Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski to admit that Poland had been asked to provide a “quiet location” for questioning suspects following the 11 September attacks of 2001.

Poland has already been compelled to pay compensation to two Saudi Arabian citizens who were apparently tortured in a CIA prison on Polish soil from 2002-2003, after Warsaw lost its appeal in a case that went before the European Court of Human Rights.

The US Department of Justice has repeatedly declined to cooperate with Poland in the latter's ongoing probe. (nh/rg)

Source: PAP