Former Security Service (SB) captain Roman Kurnik was seated in the VIP section during Poland’s official central Police Day celebrations. According to reports, the guest list was overseen by Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński. The situation sparked a wave of criticism. “Allowing a former SB officer—especially one with this background—into the immediate vicinity of the President of the Republic of Poland is a scandal, including from a security standpoint,” said Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz, former head of the National Security Bureau (BBN).
The first to report the incident was TV Republika journalist Marcin Dobski, who pointed out that Roman Kurnik, a former captain of the communist-era Security Service, was seated in the VIP section during the official Police Day ceremony—alongside Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński.
Several years ago, TV Republika journalist Michał Rachoń published a detailed profile of Kurnik.
Kurnik served as a captain in the Security Service (SB). After 1989, when his application to join the Office for State Protection (UOP) was rejected, then-Interior Minister Czesław Kiszczak appointed him deputy director of the Ministry of the Interior’s Personnel Department.
He was later named deputy to Police Commander-in-Chief Gen. Marek Papała. The murder of Papała remains unsolved to this day.
“One of the last people to have contact with Marek Papała was Roman Kurnik,” Rachoń recalled.
After the Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) won the 1997 parliamentary election, Kurnik moved into the private sector. When the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) returned to power in 2001, he became an adviser in the political office of then-Interior Minister Krzysztof Janik. He lost the position in 2002 following the outbreak of the so-called Starachowice affair.
Marcin Dobski also recalled that, while working for the weekly Wprost, he uncovered information showing that Roman Kurnik had received a COVID-19 vaccination out of turn at the Medical University of Warsaw (WUM). Speaking to the journalist at the time, Kurnik confirmed that he and his wife had been vaccinated there, most likely on December 31, 2020. Asked who had invited him to receive the vaccine, he replied evasively: “No, no, no—I’m not giving any information.”
Criticism: “This is a scandal”
Former National Security Bureau chief Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz condemned Kurnik’s presence in close proximity to the President, calling it a scandal—not least for security reasons.
According to reports, responsibility for invitations to the central Police Day celebrations rested with Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński. As the ministry overseeing the Police, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is normally responsible for organizing such state ceremonies, including selecting guests for the VIP section. On this occasion, a place of honor was reserved for a former SB captain. Critics argue that it is difficult to believe this was merely a coincidence.