“This is not just about me, it is about making every prosecutor feel the pressure” – this is how Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski commented on TV Republika regarding the decision to suspend him for another 6 months.
In February of this year, after a notification from the President of the Constitutional Tribunal (TK) Bogdan Święczkowski, Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski launched an investigation into the suspected coup d’état allegedly committed by, among others, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the Marshals of the Sejm and the Senate, and the head of the Government Legislation Centre (RCL). Shortly afterwards, then Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar decided to suspend him for six months.
The portal Niezalezna.pl was the first to report that on August 5, the Disciplinary Court in Warsaw decided to grant the request of the Disciplinary Spokesman of the Ministry of Justice to extend Prosecutor Ostrowski’s suspension for another 6 months. Radio Wnet journalist Jakub Pilarek reported that the decision was made by prosecutors Tomasz Lejman, Małgorzata Klaus, and Rafał Kawalec.
Former SB contact
On Saturday, Prosecutor Ostrowski commented on the matter on TV Republika. The Deputy Prosecutor General pointed to the past of those mentioned.
“Mr. Tomasz Lejman – and this follows from the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) files – was an operational contact of the Security Service (SB). Ms. Małgorzata Klaus was my subordinate. They did this because they sensed political demand from Minister Bodnar and, I think, also from Minister Żurek” – he stated. He stressed that the decision does not affect only him. – “It is about showing that such a thing can be done to any prosecutor, so that every prosecutor feels this pressure” – he said.
According to Prosecutor Ostrowski – who also referred to TV Republika’s reports about the possibility of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) entering the Presidential Palace – the authorities’ actions are aimed at making sure that “prosecutors follow orders from above.”
Absurd justification
Referring to the reasoning behind extending his suspension for another six months, he said it was absurd. – “It boiled down to the need to verify the circumstances of why I initiated the investigation (into the coup d’état – editor’s note). I initiated the investigation, and they are continuing it, so to me this is absurd” – he assessed.
“It is simply about keeping me out of the National Prosecutor’s Office, so that I have no influence on what happens in this important state institution. I would like to stress that this is not an institution existing for itself, but an institution for the people, for the citizens, which should safeguard the rule of law and ensure that people, especially victims, have their rights protected” – he said, adding that similar measures are being applied against other Deputy Prosecutors General – including Krzysztof Sierak, Robert Hernand, and Tomasz Janeczek.
As he stated, “just as Telewizja Polska (TVP) is being liquidated, so is the National Prosecutor’s Office (PK).” – “This is a strategy to make sure we have no influence, so that everything there is ‘pleasant.’ Only ‘pleasant’ means pleasant for them and for criminals” – he assessed.