Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz has demanded an apology from MP Franciszek Sterczewski after the latter made disputed remarks about the death of Sergeant Mateusz Sitek, who was stabbed by a migrant in May 2024.
MP Sterczewski’s Border Remarks
MP Franciszek Sterczewski of the Civic Platform (KO) spoke on Polsat News about the Polish‑Belarusian border, saying that safety would only be achieved by respecting human rights. He warned that people slipping through without screening could reach Germany, leading to German retaliation and business losses in Poland. Sterczewski also added that Sergeant Mateusz Sitek would not have died if civil and legal procedures, rather than confrontations and clashes, had prevailed.
Defense Minister’s Response
Vice‑premier and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz called Sterczewski’s statements false and unacceptable, stating that Sitek was killed in a deliberate, brutal attack, not due to procedural mistakes or chaos. He stressed that soldiers guarding the border are protected by the state and that the MP must retract his comments and issue an apology.
Details of Sergeant Sitek’s Death
Sergeant Mateusz Sitek was stabbed by a migrant on 28 May 2024. He was immediately taken to a hospital where he died on 6 June 2024. Investigators concluded that the death resulted from a penetrating chest wound that damaged the left lung and the central nervous system.
