The Polish government has allocated additional funds to the Institute of Judicial Expertise in Krakow investigating the causes of a plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the country's justice minister has said.
"In order to hold examinations related to the plane crash, 200,000 Polish zloty (some $74,000) have been additionally allocated this year," Krzysztof Kwiatkowski told journalists in Warsaw on Friday, adding that more money may be allocated for the expertise if needed.
A Soviet-made Tu-154 carrying Kaczynski and about 90 officials crashed en route to the western Russian city of Smolensk on April 10, killing everyone on board. The high-ranking delegation was due to attend a memorial ceremony for the victims of the 1940 Katyn massacre, in which Soviet secret police killed more than 20,000 Polish military officers.
Following the crash, Poland held early presidential elections, which were narrowly won by Bronislaw Komorowski, a pro-EU, moderate member of the governing Civic Platform party.
Under Kaczynski, Moscow and Warsaw were at odds over a range of historical disputes, but the Russian leadership's sincere reaction to the deadly crash helped improve Russia's image in the eyes of many Poles.
Russia has already handed over more than 10 volumes of documents related to the accident to Warsaw.
WARSAW, October 16 (RIA Novosti)
