Commander Tomasz Waszczuk played a key role in defending the Polish-Belarusian border during the height of hybrid attacks in February 2022, shortly before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. His challenges, however, have not stemmed from the wave of migrants, but from two Civic Coalition (Koalicja Obywatelska) MPs—Klaudia Jachira and Urszula Sara Zielińska—who filed a complaint against him after he denied them access to the restricted border zone.
Though the case was dismissed twice, it was reopened following a change in government. Waszczuk now faces up to three years in prison.
From Service to Scrutiny
It has been a year since the tragic death of soldier Mateusz Sitek. At that time, Commander Waszczuk was stationed at Poland’s eastern border, serving during a period of significant destabilization efforts allegedly orchestrated by Belarusian and Russian authorities.
His legal troubles began in February 2022 when he refused to allow MPs Jachira and Zielińska to enter the restricted zone near Białowieża. Neither MP represents that region, but both attempted to gain access by declaring the establishment of parliamentary offices.
On the Front Line
Speaking with Law and Justice (PiS) politician Patryk Jaki, Waszczuk recalled the volatile conditions:
“It was extremely dangerous. We stood guard alongside the police, protecting the border from illegal migration. Stones, branches, wooden debris, and other objects were thrown at us—often by Belarusian border guards. These assaults happened almost every night. It was a grueling experience for both the police and us,” he said.
Amid MPs such as Dariusz Joński and Michał Szczerba delivering food to migrants, and Franciszek Sterczewski navigating the border zone in sneakers with shopping bags, Jachira and Zielińska made their appearance. Their goal: to gain unrestricted access under the guise of parliamentary activity.
A Brief Confrontation, Long-Lasting Consequences
“The conversation was short. They said they wanted to enter to operate their parliamentary office. I asked for official permission from the Border Guard commander. They admitted they didn’t have it but insisted they had the right to enter. I made it clear: no authorization, no entry to Białowieża. That decision later led to criminal charges against me for allegedly exceeding my authority,” Waszczuk explained.
“They attempted to pressure me into letting them through. I stood by my duties and refused, citing the lack of required authorization. They filed a complaint, and the case lingered. It was dismissed twice. But after the change in government, formal charges were finally brought against me,” he added.
According to Waszczuk, the MPs had previously hinted that they would hold him accountable once the political tide turned. And now, that threat appears to have materialized. For fulfilling his responsibilities as a commander, Tomasz Waszczuk may face up to three years behind bars.