Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski was accused of disrespecting a woman who questioned him in Przemyśl on 9 October, sparking a heated back‑and‑forth with opposition leader Sławomir Mentzen.
Mentzen Accuses Sikorski of Disrespecting Women
Opposition leader Sławomir Mentzen posted a video showing security staff escorting a woman out of a meeting attended by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in Przemyśl. Mentzen claimed the minister impeded the woman from asking questions about the Gaza crisis, calling the host’s behaviour a display of disrespect toward women and an attempt to silence a “discomforting voice.” He further mocked the incident, referring to it as “the burak from the Chobielin estate,” a nickname linked to Sikorski’s family property near Bydgoszcz.
Foreign Ministry Denies Allegations
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór replied on the social‑media platform X, stating that the accusations were false and did not reflect the reality of the event. He emphasized that “inaccurate invectives do not change facts” and highlighted that only a few minutes after the incident a Q&A session took place, during which Sikorski answered questions about the Gaza situation. Wewiór added that the ministry’s events are open to all, must be conducted orderly, and respect established rules.
What Happened in Przemyśl on 9 October
During a regional visit on Thursday, 9 October, Sikorski held a public meeting in Przemyśl. A woman stood up and raised an angry protest about Israeli and Palestinian issues, claiming Israeli forces had forced a Palestinian with a Polish passport to kneel in sandals for six hours and accusing the United Nations of confirming genocide in Gaza. Security intervened, and the woman was removed from the room. Sikorski responded on the spot, saying, “It’s a shame she didn’t wait; I’m not afraid of questions, I’m not scared of defending my views.” The incident later became a focal point of political exchanges between the government and the right‑wing opposition.
