Polish Security Services Kept Defense Minister Under Surveillance - Reports

Polish special services under the country’s previous government carried out surveillance on the country's Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, local media reported Friday citing a high-ranking government source.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Thursday, Macierewicz said that the Polish special military services conducted surveillance on over 40 local politicians, journalists, publicists and scientists. The defense minister labeled the surveillance "political repression."

"With full confidence — Macierewicz was under surveillance," the source told the Wirtualna Polska media outlet.

According to the source, the security services allegedly initiated surveillance due to Macierewicz's participation in closing down military information services and their employees' checks.

On Wednesday, the Polish cabinet minister in charge of the national security, Mariusz Kaminski, said the country’s Internal Security Agency had illegally watched dozens of journalists and activists under the previous administration.

In February, a new law, expanding government surveillance powers, came into force in Poland. Under the law, Poland's Interior Ministry gains the ability to access citizens' personal data, communication and internet records without requiring a court's decision.