On Wednesday, a disciplinary court declined to extend the suspension of prosecutor Jerzy Ziarkiewicz. “As a result, the prosecutor is returning to work,” said Ziarkiewicz’s legal representative, attorney Michał Skwarzyński. Under Ziarkiewicz’s leadership, the prosecution had conducted an investigation into the Polnord case, in which Roman Giertych was expected to hear charges. In March, Ziarkiewicz was appointed to the presidential Security and Defense Council.
During Wednesday’s open session, the disciplinary court found no grounds to prolong Ziarkiewicz’s suspension.
“After two years of making absurd allegations against him, nothing has been proven, his immunity has not been lifted, and therefore there are no rational grounds for the suspension to continue. The disciplinary court concluded that dispensing with a prosecutor of this caliber—known, among other things, for combating organized crime—is not in the interest of citizens or the justice system itself,” Skwarzyński commented. He emphasized that other matters the court had been set to consider, such as Ziarkiewicz’s remuneration during the suspension, are now moot following Wednesday’s decision.
Jerzy Ziarkiewicz was suspended two years ago by the then Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, Adam Bodnar. “At that time, a narrative was created suggesting that Ziarkiewicz had committed acts undermining the dignity of his office, and even criminal offenses. In reality, prosecutor Ziarkiewicz fell victim to political purges following the change of power, as he was inconvenient for many politicians in the new ruling camp. The disciplinary court’s decision deserves recognition for not allowing political revenge to be carried out against a prosecutor who performed his duties well. And such a prosecutor will always be exposed to political pressure,” Skwarzyński said.
Jerzy Ziarkiewicz previously headed the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin. Under his leadership, that office handled the Polnord investigation, in which Roman Giertych was expected to face charges. After being suspended, Ziarkiewicz revealed behind-the-scenes details of the investigation, including Giertych’s avoidance of giving testimony, during a session of the Parliamentary Team for Counteracting Lawlessness – Safe Poland. Ziarkiewicz’s expertise and experience led to his appointment in March to the presidential Security and Defense Council, an advisory body to President Karol Nawrocki.
“This case has a broader dimension. It shows that all the narratives created by the current government about restoring the rule of law—whether regarding the Constitutional Tribunal, judges appointed after 2017, or prosecutors—collapse when confronted with courts that have preserved their independence. That is exactly what happened in the case of prosecutor Ziarkiewicz,” Michał Skwarzyński said.