Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court issued a final ruling regarding Sławomir Cenckiewicz’s revoked security clearance, but access to classified information remains unresolved.
Security Clearance Revoked by Military Counterintelligence
The dispute began in July 2024 when the head of the Military Counterintelligence Service, Gen. Jarosław Stróżyk, revoked Cenckiewicz’s security clearances. The decision was upheld by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as a second-instance authority.
Revocation meant a loss of access to classified information, including materials with the highest levels of secrecy.
Judicial Review and Legal Basis
In November 2024, Cenckiewicz appealed the decisions to the Administrative Court in Warsaw. In June 2025, the court overturned the decisions of the SKW and the Prime Minister, deeming them inconsistent with the law.
The court reviewed eight complaints concerning different levels of access to classified information, finding insufficient legal grounds for the revocation of clearances.
Appeals and Government Position
The Chancellery of the Prime Minister filed cassation appeals to the NSA. Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesperson for the minister coordinating special services, emphasized that Cenckiewicz did not have access to classified information until the case was definitively concluded.
Following the NSA ruling, Dobrzyński noted that the decision did not automatically restore his authorizations, requiring a verification procedure as indicated by the court.
Uncertainty Despite Court Ruling
Despite the court’s favorable ruling for Cenckiewicz, his situation remains ambiguous. The lack of a public justification from the NSA hinders an assessment of the ruling’s effects.
While courts challenged the revocation decisions, security services emphasize the need for re-verification and the absence of automatic access to secret documents.
Controversy Over Revocation Reasons
Media reports suggested the revocation was due to failing to disclose information about taking certain medications on a security questionnaire. However, the WSA found no violation of regulations, as the substances indicated were not psychotropic.
Cenckiewicz rejected these accusations and announced legal action against the publications and institutions responsible for the proceedings.
National Security Bureau Role and Access
In August 2025, Sławomir Cenckiewicz was appointed by President Karol Nawrocki as the head of the National Security Bureau, a position requiring constant access to classified information. The President’s Chancellery maintained he possessed valid clearances, contradicting the government and services’ interpretation.
