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Bloody plywood from Russia. Filip Folczak from „Superwizjer” about the report
Despite the ban on plywood imports from Russia, it continues to infiltrate the Polish market. „Authorities are enabling entrepreneurs, including Polish ones, to funnel millions to Putin, thereby financing the purchase of Kalashnikovs for the opposing side,” remarked Filip Folczak, a journalist from „Superwizjer” and author of the report „Bloody plywood from Russia,” during an interview with TVN24.
Filip Folczak discussed with TVN24 the persistent influx of inexpensive Russian plywood into Poland despite the sanctions. He noted that the losses incurred by Polish businesses due to this situation total PLN 250 million. Folczak is the creator of the report „Bloody plywood from Russia,” which is currently available on TVN24 GO, and will also air on TVN24 at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
View the report „Bloody plywood from Russia” on TVN24 GO
As highlighted by the journalist from „Superwizjer,” even though Polish entrepreneurs have already reported the companies involved in plywood imports to the National Revenue Administration, minimal action has been taken to curb such activities.
„For two and a half years, (Russian) goods have been flowing into Poland. For instance, we are supplying Grot rifles to Ukraine, and soldiers are using our equipment in the trenches, while at the same time, Polish authorities permit unscrupulous entrepreneurs to contribute millions to Putin, which in turn funds Kalashnikov purchases for the opposing forces,” stated the journalist.
„This smuggling occurs via Turkey, and primarily through China now. There was a phase when Kazakhstan served as a conduit for Russian plywood into Poland, bolstering Putin’s regime,” he explained.
During the discussion, Folczak also presented guidelines created by Russians for circumventing Western sanctions. „This is a presentation prepared by one of the largest Russian firms, which reached clients in Poland. Here, the Russians detail how to bypass sanctions step by step,” he described.
„There was a meeting at the National Revenue Administration, a webinar organized for Polish entrepreneurs inquiring about when this situation will finally conclude. One individual featured in our report is losing nearly two million zlotys per month. This is capital that could be allocated to salaries or business growth, yet we face a scenario where factories are at risk,” he added.
KAS on the import of prohibited plywood
Following the report „Bloody plywood from Russia,” the National Revenue Administration issued a statement indicating that „the management of the National Revenue Administration, established in December 2023, has made it a priority to combat and identify activities that violate sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus, including restrictions on the import of Russian plywood.” „Upon identifying the importation of prohibited plywood, based on documentation asserting its purported origin from Kazakhstan, intensive actions have been initiated within the framework of our competencies,” the tax authority confirmed.
The statement highlighted that, after gathering evidence, four Kazakh entities were added to the sanctions list maintained by the Ministry of Interior and Administration. „This has led to a notable decline in imports from 55,669 tons in 2023 valued at PLN 210,863,097 to 18,790 tons in 2024 valued at PLN 58,376,755, representing over a 70 percent decrease,” officials estimated.
„Crucial information in the form of a list of entities that likely imported birch plywood from Russia, provided by the wood industry on June 10, 2024, underwent thorough analysis, after which specific actions were initiated, including procedural activities by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk,” it was reported.
In this context, as indicated by KAS, inspections of warehouses and production facilities were conducted, securing documentation related to trade with Belarusian and Russian entities concerning timber and wood products. This included securing invoices, accounting records, and materials pertaining to timber transactions.
„Another instance of KAS’s efforts is the seizure at the end of last year by the Lublin Customs Office in Biała Podlaska of approximately 1,000 pallets of plywood/plywood products valued at around 1.5 million. A series of searches were executed, resulting in the acquisition of financial, accounting, and commercial records related to plywood trade. In this regard, 15 preparatory proceedings are being pursued for customs fraud,” it added.
In its statement, KAS emphasized that „due to legal constraints,” it cannot disclose specific details regarding actions taken against particular companies on the list.
Watch: How Russia outmaneuvers Polish authorities and profits millions by breaching sanctions>>>
