Zbigniew Wassermann
Zbigniew Wassermann | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1949 Kraków, Poland |
| Died | 10 April 2010 (aged 60) Near Smolensk-North airport, Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, lawyer |
| Known for | Minister of Special Forces (2005–2007), member of Sejm, vice-chairman of PKN Orlen investigation commission |
Zbigniew Franciszek Wassermann (IPA: [ˈzbʲiɡɲɛv ˈvasɛrman] <phonos file="Pl-Zbigniew Wassermann.ogg"></phonos>; born 17 September 1949 – died 10 April 2010) was a prominent Polish political figure affiliated with the Law and Justice party.
Originating from Kraków, Wassermann earned his law degree at the Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Wydział Prawa). He served as a member of the Sejm, Poland’s lower parliamentary chamber, representing the Kraków electoral district.
Beginning in July 2004, he held the position of vice-chairman and member of the PKN Orlen investigation commission. Between November 2005 and November 2007, Wassermann was appointed as the Minister of Special Forces within the cabinets led by Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and subsequently Jarosław Kaczyński.
Tragically, Wassermann was among those on board the 36th Special Aviation Regiment Tupolev Tu-154 flight carrying President Lech Kaczyński that crashed near Smolensk-North airport close to Pechersk, Russia, on 10 April 2010, resulting in no survivors.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded posthumously with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta on 16 April 2010. His final resting place is in a cemetery located in Krakow Bielany, where he was interred on 20 April 2010.