A Polish court upheld a prosecutor’s preventative measures against Częstochowa Mayor Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk, preventing his return to office amid a corruption investigation.
Mayor’s Appeal Dismissed, Suspension Continues
The court confirmed the validity of the initial detention and the preventative measures imposed by the prosecutor’s office, meaning Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk remains unable to resume his duties as mayor.
Following the ruling on Monday, April 27th, Matyjaszczyk declined to speak with journalists; his lawyer, Wojciech Hop, stated the legal proceedings are ongoing and further defense actions will be taken.
Current Restraints on the Mayor
Matyjaszczyk is currently subject to a 200,000 złoty (approximately $50,000 USD) bail, a travel ban with passport confiscation, police surveillance, and restrictions on contact with other suspects and witnesses.
Crucially, he is also prohibited from entering Częstochowa City Hall and remains suspended from performing his official duties, with First Deputy Mayor Zdzisław Wolski fulfilling his responsibilities.
Previous Court Decisions
The defense noted that the regional court’s assessment differed from that of the Katowice District Court, which previously denied a request for Matyjaszczyk’s arrest. However, the defense retains the right to appeal the current measures to the prosecutor’s office.
Investigation Background
Matyjaszczyk was arrested by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) in February as part of an investigation led by the National Prosecutor’s Office’s department in Śląsk.
Following his arrest, he was taken to his office at City Hall for several hours of questioning before being transferred to the National Prosecutor’s Office headquarters in Katowice.
Allegations of Corruption
The prosecutor has charged Matyjaszczyk with two counts: accepting at least 40,000 złoty between 2018-2022 in exchange for influencing the city budget to benefit a specific contractor, and accepting benefits totaling at least 129,000 złoty from multiple individuals between September 2020 and October 2025.
Matyjaszczyk maintains his innocence, claiming he is the victim of defamation and expressing confidence in his eventual exoneration.
Earlier Ruling on Arrest
The Katowice-Wschód District Court denied a request for Matyjaszczyk’s temporary arrest the day after his initial detention, February 26th. The regional court upheld this decision in March.
Broader Investigation into Local Corruption
The case against Matyjaszczyk is part of a larger investigation into corruption within the local government of Częstochowa. Former Silesian Voivodeship Deputy Marshal Bartłomiej S. and former Częstochowa Deputy Mayor Łukasz B. have also been charged.
Bartłomiej S. faces corruption and money laundering charges and resigned from his position as deputy marshal. Łukasz B., a candidate for mayor in the recent local elections, faces five charges related to accepting benefits, falsifying documents, and inciting the issuance of inaccurate invoices.
The National Prosecutor’s Office reports that approximately a dozen individuals are currently under suspicion in the broader investigation, which is ongoing and expanding, potentially involving up to 20 individuals from the local government and business sectors.
Failed Recall Attempt
Last week, Częstochowa city councilors failed to pass a resolution to hold a referendum on Matyjaszczyk’s recall, as the proposal did not receive the required three-fifths majority vote.
Matyjaszczyk’s Political Career
Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk has served as the Mayor of Częstochowa since 2010. He won reelection in 2024, running on the Left party ticket and defeating Monika Pohorecka of the PiS party. He has also been suspended from his membership in the New Left party.
