Robert Bąkiewicz, who painted nationalist symbols on a government building, now faces trial for vandalism and up to eight years in prison.
Bąkiewicz’s ‘Teaching Polishness’ Statement
Robert Bąkiewicz stated in January 2024 before the headquarters of the Ministry of Climate and Environment that the government of Donald Tusk after taking power was destroying everything that is Polish and national. He claimed that symbols of Poland and crosses were being removed. Bąkiewicz added that “probably Minister Hennig-Kloska ordered the removal of the symbol of Fighting Poland from this building” and a plaque commemorating the cursed soldiers. He stated “Now we will teach them Polishness” and painted two symbols of Fighting Poland with spray paint on the building’s facade.
Ministry: Reason Was Renovation
For several years, plaques commemorating the Cursed Soldiers and the symbol of Fighting Poland had been hanging in the Ministry of Climate and Environment. In January 2024, PiS politicians alarmed that both the symbol and plaques had disappeared. The ministry’s then-press spokesman Hubert Różyk stated that they were removed due to renovation. He explained that the plaques were hung in a way that allowed for their removal, while the Fighting Poland symbol was a plastic one directly attached to the wall and could only be detached. The ministry emphasized that the plaques are secured and stored, and that three plaques commemorating, among others, soldiers of the Home Army are still on the first floor.
Bąkiewicz to Stand Trial
Robert Bąkiewicz was charged with damaging a historic monument. He did not plead guilty. In June 2024, the Ochota District Prosecutor’s Office referred the indictment to court. It was assessed that the damage amounted to 3,700 zł and that Bąkiewicz “permanently damaged the structure of Świdnik yellow sandstone.” The activist faces from 6 months to 8 years in prison. As we have established, the trial before the District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw will begin soon. “The case awaits a hearing scheduled for February 13, 2026,” Vice President of the court Anna Ziębińska informed us.
Bąkiewicz’s Legal Troubles
Robert Bąkiewicz is the former president of the Independence March Association. In October 2023, he unsuccessfully ran for a parliamentary seat from the Law and Justice party list (with the support of Sovereign Poland). At the end of December last year, the Gorzów Wielkopolski District Prosecutor’s Office referred an indictment to court against Bąkiewicz in connection with his activity in the so-called Border Defense Movement. He is charged, among other things, with insulting four officers of the Border Guard and Military Police at the border crossing in Słubice. The activist does not admit to guilt. In 2023, he was convicted for assaulting activist Katarzyna Augustyn (Grandma Kasia). President Andrzej Duda partially pardoned Bąkiewicz last year.