Official website of the President of Russia

Документ   /

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Dear friends, dear citizens of the Republic of Poland.

I and all citizens of Russia are shocked by the terrible tragedy that occurred, the death of the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and all Polish citizens on board the plane that crashed near Smolensk.

These days we have been holding joint commemorative events at Katyn and together we grieved for the victims of the totalitarian past. Lech Kaczynski flew to Russia to personally pay tribute to the perished Polish officers both as President and as their fellow citizen.

All Russians share your grief and mourning. I promise that all the circumstances of this tragedy will be investigated with utmost care in close collaboration with the Polish authorities. I have given comprehensive orders to this effect to law enforcement agencies.

On behalf of the people of Russia, I want to express my deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the people of Poland, and my empathy and support to families and friends of the victims. Monday April 12, 2010 will be declared a national day of mourning in Russia.