Marcin Z., who poured slurry in front of Stefan Krajewski’s property, has been remanded in custody for two months. Prosecutors have charged the 35-year-old with insulting a constitutional body of the Republic of Poland, issuing unlawful threats, and making criminal threats. Police are still examining the composition of the slurry, as the case may involve creating a danger to life or health. Notably, however, Minister Krajewski has no intention of dismissing the head of his office, Michał Zarzecki, who in 2020 organized a protest outside the home of Kazimierz Gwiazdowski. PSL activists—including those associated with the current minister—also attacked the homes of other PiS politicians.
“My house is home to four generations. My 95-year-old mother remembers those protests to this day and is still afraid to open the door. At that time, there were also threats: ‘We’ll drown you in slurry. We’ll burn you.’ I didn’t report it anywhere, because I assumed that if someone writes such things under their own name, the threat is minimal.”
For several days now, Stefan Krajewski has remained in the role of victim. The Minister of Agriculture was shaken by a protest carried out by 35-year-old Marcin Z., a well-known social activist linked to the circles of Grzegorz Braun. In the past, he repeatedly poured slurry in front of politicians’ homes and also organized a similar event outside the Prime Minister’s Office. It was known that he intended to join the organized farmers’ protests. His social media indicate that he was being monitored by the services. In the evening, he drove up to Stefan Krajewski’s home, rang the intercom, and poured slurry at the entrance. He recorded everything on his mobile phone. After notifying the police, he waited for officers to arrive. As part of the protest, he also played a song by Kazik, replacing the word “Miller” with “Stefan” and “Tusk.” Engaging in a conversation with the minister’s wife, he said that “this could all end badly.” When pressed, he explained that if someone pursues German interests, they should “f*** off” to Berlin.
Out of all this, charges were formulated against Marcin Z. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Zambrów charged him with issuing unlawful threats motivated by political affiliation against Minister Krajewski, insulting a constitutional body of the Republic of Poland, and making criminal threats—this time concerning the Prime Minister, three ministers (including Minister Krajewski), and the Mayor of Warsaw. The charges also cover threats directed at the Minister of Agriculture’s wife. The suspect faces up to five years in prison. The entire affair has a demonstrative character. The Zambrów County Police posted a video on its website showing Marcin Z. handcuffed. The court in Łomża granted prosecutors’ request to place him in pre-trial detention for two months.
“The farmer’s motives and the protest context deserve consideration, and the act itself was incidental and emotional in nature. What is troubling is the change in the authorities’ and law-enforcement agencies’ approach to citizens’ protests, which are first hindered by decisions refusing permission to hold assemblies and later by numerous fine, misdemeanor, and—in extreme cases—criminal proceedings against protesters. This undoubtedly constitutes a dangerous interference with the constitutional right to freedom of assembly,” emphasizes attorney Magdalena Leszczyńska from the Ordo Iuris Litigation Intervention Center, which defended the farmer.
How the Families of PiS MPs Were Intimidated
The case is being amplified primarily by PSL politicians, who are using it to divert attention from the Mercosur agreement. The very form of protests outside MPs’ homes in Podlasie originated in the previous parliamentary term—and was initiated by PSL itself. In 2020, farmers opposed the so-called “Five for Animals.” At that time, all farmers’ organizations were united. In Podlasie, PSL was the ringleader of such “visits.”
“In my case, they staged a show in the village. One hundred tractors arrived and stopped on the outskirts. It was the first time in our region’s history that protests took place outside politicians’ homes. Even then, I appealed for restraint, but no one listened,” says PiS MP Jacek Bogucki.
At the head of those protests was Stefan Grodzki, mayor of the Kulesze Kościelne municipality and one of Stefan Krajewski’s collaborators at the marshal’s office when Krajewski was deputy marshal.
“As far as I know, Stefan Krajewski encouraged participation in that protest,” Bogucki tells us.
The MP’s home was prepared for demonstrations; neighbors stood up in his defense, and firefighters offered assistance. Even so, it took a toll on the household.
“My house is home to four generations. My 95-year-old mother remembers those protests to this day and is still afraid to open the door. At that time, there were also threats: ‘We’ll drown you in slurry. We’ll burn you.’ I didn’t report it anywhere, because I assumed that if someone writes such things under their own name, the threat is minimal,”
MP Bogucki tells us.
In 2020, there were protests outside the home of MP Kazimierz Gwiazdowski. On a Sunday around 9:00 a.m., a raid on the property was organized. First, banners were hung reading: “A traitor to the Polish countryside lives here.” Manure was scattered at the gate. One of the most active organizers was Michał Zarzecki—the right-hand man of Stefan Krajewski and today the head of his political office.
“My grandchildren were at home, and two of my daughters were pregnant. One of my daughters recognized the protesters and went to talk to them. They lunged at her, so she returned in tears. It affected them deeply. Personally, I was against reporting it to the services, but my wife did so. No arrests were made; as far as I know, it ended with fines,”
says MP Gwiazdowski.
As he emphasizes, people shouted outside the house: “We’ll be back here, we’ll put things in order.”
Read the full article in Wednesday’s issue of Gazeta Polska Codziennie.