Antoni Macierewicz Involved in Late-Night Altercation at Piłsudski Square

Police intervened late Thursday night at Warsaw’s Piłsudski Square after a heated confrontation erupted between Law and Justice (PiS) MP Antoni Macierewicz and protesters gathered at the Smolensk monuments.

Nighttime Confrontation at the Monuments

The incident occurred on Thursday, July 9, around 10:00 PM near the monuments of President Lech Kaczyński and the Victims of the 2010 Smolensk Tragedy. Protesters opposing the monthly commemorations had placed a wreath featuring an inscription, prompting a clash with Macierewicz.

Macierewicz accused the protesters of supporting Russia, to which a participant retorted that he was the one supporting Russians. During the escalating exchange, participants told officers that the politician had attacked them, leading to a tense standoff where Macierewicz questioned the police’s inaction.

Accusations and Allegations

Protesters challenged Macierewicz regarding his claims of an assassination plot, asking why he had not reported such a claim to NATO under Article 5. Macierewicz did not address these questions, instead physically pushing against the demonstrators.

The protesters labeled the MP a “Russian spy” and a “scoundrel,” accusing him of violating their personal immunity and ignoring court rulings regarding the placement of the wreath. Macierewicz later criticized the police presence, alleging bias and comparing their actions to practices from the PRL era. The altercation reportedly lasted until 2:00 AM.

Ongoing Disputes Over Commemorations

This follows an earlier incident on Friday, July 10, involving Jarosław Kaczyński, who argued with police after failing to place a wreath at the monument. Kaczyński claimed the protesters were unlawfully disrupting the event and vowed that a future government would legally restrict access to the site.

Members of the “Citizens of RP” group have frequently voiced opposition on social media against what they describe as the “notorious” blocking of the monument by PiS politicians. They allege that these actions ignore multiple court rulings, including those from the Supreme Court.