Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court has ordered a review of Sławomir Cenckiewicz’s security clearance, initially revoked by the head of the Internal Security Agency (SKW).
Security Clearance Dispute Resurfaces
On Wednesday, April 15th, the Supreme Administrative Court rejected appeals from the Prime Minister’s Office against rulings by the Warsaw Administrative Court, which overturned the decision to revoke the security clearance of Sławomir Cenckiewicz, the current head of the National Security Bureau (BBN).
The court declined Cenckiewicz’s request to terminate the investigative proceedings, leaving the matter in the hands of the relevant authorities. Cenckiewicz stated the ruling proves he “never lost access to classified information.”
SKW to Re-Examine Cenckiewicz’s Clearance
The head of the SKW stated they have grounds to revisit the case. A spokesperson for the Minister Coordinating Special Services, Jacek Dobrzyński, clarified that the NSA ruling does not automatically restore Cenckiewicz’s access to classified information, emphasizing the need to continue the investigative process as directed by the courts.
SKW Chief Jarosław Stróżyk confirmed they must comply with the Warsaw Administrative Court’s decision to overturn the SKW’s original decision regarding Cenckiewicz’s clearance. He stressed the ruling did not invalidate, but rather overturned, the SKW’s decision, allowing for further review.
Procedural Review and Potential Outcomes
The SKW will re-examine Cenckiewicz’s case once the court returns the case files. According to law, the SKW must reconsider the matter in line with the court’s guidelines. Two options exist: either terminate the proceedings or issue a new decision.
Stróżyk explained that if the court had annulled the previous decision, the SKW would have been barred from initiating further proceedings.
No Political Motivation Claimed
Stróżyk asserted there is no political motivation behind the proceedings. He noted the indictment was filed in 2025, after the SKW initiated the control proceedings.
SKW’s Jurisdiction Under Review
The SKW will also assess whether it remains the appropriate authority to verify Cenckiewicz’s clearance. Initially, when the SKW began the investigative process, Cenckiewicz was employed by a military university, an institution under SKW’s protection.
Political Ramifications and PiS Response
Agata Kondzińska of Wyborcza.pl reports that Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, convened a meeting of party officials to discuss how to respond to the situation.
Access to Information and Procedural Focus
Stróżyk emphasized that administrative courts address procedural issues, not whether an individual being vetted by the SKW can be trusted to maintain confidentiality. He stated this means Cenckiewicz still does not have access to classified information.
He reiterated that the SKW operates according to established procedures dating back to 1999, when the first law on the protection of classified information was enacted.
System Integrity Maintained
Stróżyk also stated that the case does not affect the integrity of the classified information protection system, which he affirmed is functioning correctly. He emphasized the SKW treats everyone equally and that the matter is not politically motivated.
Origins of the Dispute
The dispute over Cenckiewicz’s security clearance began with a July 2024 decision by Stróżyk to revoke Cenckiewicz’s clearances. The Prime Minister’s Office upheld the SKW chief’s decision.
Appeals and Previous Rulings
In August of last year, Dobrzyński reported that the Prime Minister’s Office filed cassation appeals to the NSA against the WSA rulings from June 2025. Dobrzyński stated they disagreed with the WSA’s reasoning and considered the matter clear-cut.
Cenckiewicz’s Claims and Counterarguments
The case and the WSA ruling sparked a dispute over Cenckiewicz’s access to classified information. Cenckiewicz argued the court found no legal basis for the actions taken by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the SKW, claiming he still possesses security clearance for all levels of classified information.
Dobrzyński countered that Cenckiewicz does not have access to classified information due to the ongoing legal proceedings, noting the WSA ruling was not final as the Prime Minister’s Office had filed a cassation appeal to the NSA.
Related Incident and Presidential Appointment
In August 2025, the dispute intensified when President Karol Nawrocki appointed Cenckiewicz as head of the BBN, a position requiring access to state secrets. In September, presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz stated Cenckiewicz held valid security clearance for all classified information, representing the official position of the President’s Chancellery.
