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Poland’s former Communist President hospitalized in heavy condition

Poland’s former President Wojciech Jaruzelski was admitted urgently to hospital Wednesday in a severe condition

WARSAW, December 12 (Itar-Tass) – Poland’s former President Wojciech Jaruzelski was admitted urgently to hospital Wednesday in a severe condition, his wife told reporters.

Jaruzelski, 89, was Poland’s last Communist leader from 1981 through to 1989. He occupied the post of the Prime Minister from 1981 through 1985 and was the country’s President from 1985 through 1989.

His personal record also includes several decades of service in Wojsko Polskie /the Polish Armed Forces/ where he reached the general’s rank.

In December 1981, he introduced martial law in Poland and took chairmanship of the Military Council of National Salvation when the country was swept by the anti-Communist and anti-Soviet unrest steered by the Solidarity movement with Lech Walesa at the head.

Jaruzelski would claim later his actions against Solidarity were motivated by the willingness to prevent a possible occupation of Poland by the Soviet Union, since the situation was highly threatening to the strategic interests of the latter.

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