Żurek Slams Presidential Pardons as Purely Political

Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek fiercely criticized President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to pardon three individuals, labeling parts of the move as strictly political gestures.

Sharp Criticism from the Justice Minister

President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to pardon three individuals triggered a sharp reaction from the government. Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek heavily criticized the head of state’s move, describing parts of the decisions as purely political and a nod to specific circles. The head of the Ministry of Justice addressed the decisions concerning Adam Borowski, Piotr Staruchowicz, known as “Staruch,” and Piotr Pytel.

Pardoning is a presidential prerogative, but minister Waldemar Żurek emphasized on Tuesday that he is concerned by pardons aimed at winking at one’s own circles or being strictly political.

Two Pardons Under Fire

On Monday, Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President Mateusz Kotecki conveyed that President Karol Nawrocki exercised the right of mercy toward three individuals. This concerned Adam Borowski, Piotr Staruchowicz alias “Staruch,” and Piotr Pytel, with the information confirmed by their defense attorneys.

Speaking on TVP Info on Tuesday, Żurek stressed that while pardoning is a presidential prerogative, he remains concerned by decisions designed to appease specific environments. He noted that the focus should be on the law, humanitarian principles, and whether a served sentence has fulfilled its purpose, whereas two of these pardons are purely political.

Scrutinizing Borowski and Staruchowicz

Addressing the specific cases, the minister noted that while Adam Borowski is described as elderly and in poor health, he recently ran for the position of Ombudsman. Żurek questioned the justification of shielding him from prison based on those grounds.

Regarding “Staruch,” the minister pointed out that his record and past actions are well known, viewing his pardon as an evident nod to football fan environments. Żurek expressed deep concern that having a friend or a president sharing similar values could politically bypass the hard work of law enforcement and courts.

An Exception for Piotr Pytel

At the same time, the minister expressed satisfaction regarding the pardon of Piotr Pytel. He recalled that he personally contributed to this pardon and ordered a break in his sentence after concluding that its purpose had been achieved and that he is a fully resocialized man, noting it was a matter of human empathy since Pytel served nearly 22 years.

Details on the Pardoned Individuals

Borowski is a democratic opposition activist from the PRL era, sentenced to six months of imprisonment for defaming attorney and KO MP Roman Giertych. “Staruch” is a leader of the Legia Warsaw fan community, who was penalized by a court with a two-year stadium ban.

Pytel was sentenced by a court in Munich to life imprisonment for a murder which, according to the Polish prosecutor’s office, he did not commit. General Prosecutor Waldemar Żurek requested his pardon from the president in mid-July.