Adam Andruszkiewicz, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Poland, has been formally charged with forgery related to the 2014 local elections.
Allegations of Signature Fraud
The Lublin Regional Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Adam Andruszkiewicz, alleging he orchestrated the forgery of signatures on nomination papers for candidates from the National Movement party during the 2014 local elections. Andruszkiewicz vehemently denies the accusations, claiming political motivations behind the proceedings.
Investigators allege that between September 15th and October 6th, 2014, while leading the All-Polish Youth, Andruszkiewicz directed the falsification of signatures supporting candidates for the Podlaskie Voivodeship Sejmik in electoral district no. 3. The elections in question took place on November 16th, 2014.
Data Processing and Coordination
The prosecution contends that the alleged scheme involved not only the forgery of signatures by others but also the illegal processing of personal data contained on the nomination lists. Investigators believe Andruszkiewicz played a coordinating role, issuing instructions for document preparation and overseeing signature collection.
Evidence and Witness Testimony
Beata Syk-Jankowska, spokesperson for the Lublin Regional Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the evidence includes witness testimony and statements from one defendant who consistently implicated Andruszkiewicz in the alleged scheme. His position as a leader and responsibility for organizing signature collection were also considered significant.
Forensic Analysis of Signatures
Handwriting analysis played a key role in the investigation. Prosecutors state that experts identified the possibility that some signatures were penned by Adam Andruszkiewicz. However, some signatures were deemed unsuitable for comparative graphological analysis.
Scale of the Investigation
The investigation encompassed 1761 signatures, with 501 subjected to detailed comparative analysis. Over the course of the multi-year investigation, 1596 witnesses were questioned, and 59 expert opinions were obtained. Nine individuals were initially designated as suspects, with some cases being separated into independent proceedings.
Co-Defendants Admit Guilt
In addition to Andruszkiewicz, two other men—40-year-old economist Wojciech N. and 39-year-old electrician Paweł P.—have been charged with illegally processing personal data, using illegally created databases, and forging signatures.
Unlike Andruszkiewicz, the co-defendants have admitted guilt. The prosecution has requested a conviction without a trial, indicating acceptance of a voluntary plea agreement. They face up to five years in prison.
Andruszkiewicz Claims Political Motivation
Adam Andruszkiewicz consistently rejects all charges, asserting that the case is politically motivated and part of a broader dispute between the ruling camp and those associated with the President’s Chancellery.
He emphasizes that the lengthy investigation did not result in a direct charge of forging signatures, but rather focuses on allegations that he issued instructions to others. He believes this is a baseless construction.
“I believe I am innocent. The evidence is very weak, and the whole matter is political,” he stated, pledging an active defense and willingness to cooperate with the court.
Investigation Timeline and Background
The investigation began in late 2014 following a notification from the Regional Electoral Commission in Białystok to the Białystok-Południe District Prosecutor’s Office. The case was later transferred to the Białystok District Prosecutor’s Office and then to the Lublin Regional Prosecutor’s Office in 2019.
In October 2024, the case returned to the Lublin Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which conducted extensive investigative work. Confrontations between suspects reportedly resulted in one defendant reaffirming previous statements implicating Andruszkiewicz.
Adam Andruszkiewicz is a politician associated with Law and Justice (PiS), previously active in nationalistic circles, including the All-Polish Youth and the National Movement. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs and was later appointed by President Karol Nawrocki as Deputy Chief of Staff.
