Mariusz Kazana (5 August 1960 – 10 April 2010) was a Polish diplomat and political figure. Kazana was born in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its bank (geography), left-bank tributary, the Brda (river), Brda, the strategic location of Byd ...

and studied law at the

University of Warsaw The University of Warsaw (, ) is a public university, public research university in Warsaw, Poland. Established on November 19, 1816, it is the largest institution of higher learning in the country, offering 37 different fields of study as well ...

. He served as Director of Diplomatic Protocol in the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

until his death in the

2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash On 10 April 2010, a Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft operating Polish Air Force Flight 101 crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk, killing List of casualties of the Smolensk air disaster, all 96 people on board. Among the victims were the president ...

near

Smolensk Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It has been a regional capital for most of ...

. He was buried in the

Powązki Military Cemetery Powązki Military Cemetery (; ) is an old military cemetery located in the Żoliborz district, western part of Warsaw, Poland. The cemetery is often confused with the older Powązki Cemetery, known colloquially as "Old Powązki". The Old Pową ...

with full military honours, including an honour guard and gun salute. The Mariusz Kazana Foundation was created in his memory on 29 September 2010, and is headed by Kazana's widow, Barbara Kazana, who serves as the foundation's president. The foundation aims to "build a positive image of Poland by popularising culture and art in the country and abroad and trengtheninternational artistic exchange".

Honours and awards

*Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Portuguese Republic - 2008 *

National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

, Class IV - 2009 *Commander's Cross of the

Order Pro Merito Melitensi The Order of Merit (; ) is the order of merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, established in 1920. It is awarded to recipients who have brought honour to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, promoted Christian values and for chari ...

- 2009 *Knight's Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary The Hungarian Order of Merit () is the fourth highest Order (honour), State Order of Hungary. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the Order of ...

- 2009 *Officer's Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

- 2010,

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award, an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication, publishing of creative work after the author's death * Posthumous (album), ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1 ...

*Badge of Honour "

Bene Merito The Bene Merito honorary distinction (; Latin for "well-merited" or "worthy") is a departmental (ministerial) decoration of Poland. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland awards the citizens of Poland and foreign nationals with this decoratio ...

" - 2010, posthumously *Titular diplomatic ambassador - 2010, posthumously * Medal of Merit for the Police - 2010, posthumously

References

Biographical sketch
1960 births 2010 deaths Polish diplomats Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta Grand Officers of the Order of Merit (Portugal) Knight's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil) Recipients of the National Order of Merit (Malta) Victims of the Smolensk air disaster People from Bydgoszcz University of Warsaw alumni {{Poland-politician-stub