Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed that Adam Niedzielski no longer had state security protection after December 2023, despite repeated public threats.
Marcin Kierwiński on the Beating of Adam Niedzielski
During a press conference, Marcin Kierwiński was questioned about the beating of Adam Niedzielski and the subsequent statement. The Minister of Internal Affairs stated that Niedzielski ceased to be a minister in August 2023, and his state protection by the State Security Service (SOP) remained until December. “SOP does not protect all former ministers or prime ministers. Detailed analyses are conducted. In October 2023, the head of SOP requested the removal of protection,” Kierwiński explained. He added that state protection for public officials ends within 30 days after their term concludes—or 90 days in the case of a prime minister. Kierwiński emphasized that the decision to remove SOP protection from Niedzielski was made in late December 2023.
Revoked Security Officers Without Notifying Them
“From August 8, the end of his mission, until December, when his protection ceased, the minister used this protection 15 times. He did not notify the service, nor did he inform them about his continued use, meaning only five months of protection were provided to him. You can judge this fact yourselves,” Kierwiński said. He noted that Niedzielski had installed technical security measures for his home but requested their removal on August 9, the day after leaving his ministerial role. Kierwiński reiterated that anyone feeling threatened can apply for police protection to their local police commander, adding that Niedzielski did not submit such a request to the Central Police Headquarters.
Comments on Threats
“Furthermore, I checked this information (though I will verify it again)—the news was reported yesterday evening. Since Niedzielski stopped serving as the health minister, he has not reported any threats against himself,” Kierwiński stated. He expressed solidarity with Niedzielski and vowed to rigorously address “criminal behavior on Polish streets.” However, he criticized the attempt to politicize the issue, saying, “Such clumsy political maneuvering is not appropriate.”
Beating of Adam Niedzielski: Blames the Minister of Internal Affairs
Adam Niedzielski was attacked in Siedlce on Wednesday afternoon. The former health minister under the PiS government was hospitalized. Police arrested the perpetrators later that day. “I was beaten by two men shouting ‘death to traitors of the homeland.’ I was struck in the face, then kicked while lying on the ground. The incident lasted only fifteen seconds before they fled,” Niedzielski recounted in social media. “I am bruised and sore, but I want to reassure everyone that no internal injuries were detected. I would like to thank the medics at the Siedlce Voivodeship Hospital for their support and assistance,” he wrote. Niedzielski claimed the attack was a result of “the tolerance of hate speech” and the removal of his protection by Kierwiński, despite numerous public threats.
Source: Gazeta, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/mswia#anchorLink], https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Ministerstwo-Zdrowia#anchorLink], https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/rzad#anchorLink], https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Razem#anchorLink]
