The Provincial Administrative Court in Lublin has annulled the resolution of the Lublin provincial board dismissing Redbad Klynstra from the position of director of the Osterwa Theatre in Lublin, the court’s spokesperson informed the media. For now, the Marshal’s Office is not commenting on the matter.
In June of this year, the Provincial Administrative Court (WSA) in Lublin received a complaint from the director of the Juliusz Osterwa Theatre in Lublin, Redbad Klynstra, regarding the board’s resolution to remove him from his post.
Court spokesperson Judge Robert Hałabis announced today that the court declared the contested resolution null and void.
The basis for this ruling was a significant violation of the law in the course of the proceedings concerning the dismissal of the theatre director. The court found that the entire procedure had been conducted in a manner raising doubts about its integrity, the spokesperson said.
However, the court’s decision does not mean—WSA emphasized in its statement—that Klynstra is reinstated as director of the theatre.
According to the court, the actions in the case were taken at months-long intervals, and “the entire dismissal procedure essentially took place over almost the entirety of the complainant’s term of office.”
In the court’s view, a number of procedural rules were violated. The court noted, among other things, the lack of the Minister of Culture’s consent, given that the theatre is run in partnership with the ministry.
The court also pointed out—according to the WSA’s statement—a violation of the statutes of the Lublin province; this included the requirement to present all members of the provincial board with the planned agenda and draft resolutions at least one day prior to the scheduled meeting.
The spokesperson for the Lublin provincial marshal, Remigiusz Małecki, told the media that the provincial board would not comment on the decision until it had reviewed the written justification. The WSA’s ruling may be appealed in cassation to the Supreme Administrative Court.
Redbad Klynstra had been the director of the Osterwa Theatre in Lublin since September 2021. For a year before that, he served as acting head of the institution. His term was supposed to last until August 31, 2026. In April of this year, the Lublin provincial board dismissed him from his position. “The reason for this decision lies in the findings of an inspection carried out at the theatre by the Marshal’s Office,” the marshal’s spokesperson argued at the time.
Klynstra had granted bonuses to employees for working in special conditions during the pandemic. He had previously obtained a positive opinion from the theatre’s official lawyer. Later, however, it turned out that the same lawyer… prepared a negative opinion on the bonuses during the proceedings concerning Klynstra’s dismissal.