“For many years, I was the only person—besides municipal social services—who was able to help Jerzy Ż. If anyone truly wanted to help him, and if those currently claiming to assist him had good intentions, they would have called the phone number Jerzy has had for 20 years and used many times in recent years,” said Karol Nawrocki, an independent presidential candidate, in a detailed interview in which he explained the circumstances under which he acquired a 28-square-meter studio apartment in Gdańsk.
An Attack on Nawrocki
Today, the news portal Onet.pl published an interview with a woman identified as “Mr. Jerzy’s caretaker.” Anna Kanigowska, who claims to have cared for the man, accused Karol Nawrocki of neglect. Social media users were quick to point out that Kanigowska had previously posted hostile comments about Nawrocki online.
In response, Nawrocki’s campaign released his financial disclosure statement, along with a notarized will and the deed to the apartment where Jerzy Ż. currently resides. Nawrocki addressed the issue in detail during an interview with journalist Bogdan Rymanowski. He stressed that the situation was a “challenge” for his campaign, calling it “an orchestrated operation involving the secret services and the media—truth is our only defense.” He also responded to comments from Donald Tusk, who criticized the media reports targeting Nawrocki by saying they “reek.”
“Donald Tusk’s words—those of a habitual liar with ties to Vladimir Putin—mean nothing to me. As for my relationship with Jerzy Ż.—I’ve helped this man for years and have nothing to be ashamed of,” said Nawrocki.
He went on to claim that “plummeting support for Rafał Trzaskowski, his disastrous debate performance in Końskie, and the rising panic in his campaign have led to a situation where, in addition to state television, prosecutors, and the Supreme Audit Office, now even the secret services are being deployed to rescue Trzaskowski’s presidential bid.”
Nawrocki also revealed what he believes is the source of the leak regarding the Gdańsk apartment. “For two months now, we’ve known that my classified information file has been circulating. Someone will eventually have to be held accountable for that. We’re dealing with an election that’s been unfair from the very beginning. The information that surfaced yesterday and the day before comes directly from my security clearance questionnaire. No one else had access to it. The direction of the attack is obvious,” he said.
Withdrawal from the Race? Nawrocki Responds
When asked if he’s considering stepping down from the race, Nawrocki responded clearly:
“I am not considering withdrawing. I intend to win this presidential election—even though the entire state apparatus is working against my candidacy.”
“I Don’t Own Three Apartments”
The PiS-endorsed candidate also addressed questions about his assets.
“I do not own three apartments. One of them belongs to my mother, who is thankfully still alive. Out of caution, I listed it in my financial disclosure. My mother drew up a will, which was filed with a notary. I didn’t know about it beforehand. She later informed me, and I decided to declare it in my filings. The land registry clearly shows that my mother is the owner,” Nawrocki said.
He clarified that he is currently paying a mortgage on a 57-square-meter apartment where he lives and is the legal owner of a 28-square-meter unit in which Jerzy Ż. resides—although he hasn’t had the keys to it for years, as he’s considered it Jerzy’s home.
How Nawrocki Met Jerzy Ż.
Nawrocki described how his relationship with Jerzy Ż. began.
“I think I was 24 or 25, so this was around 2007 or 2008. He was a neighbor in my district. I had known him before, but that’s when I began helping him. He was already under social care and clearly in need of support. I helped him in whatever ways I could at the time,” he recalled.
On Purchasing the Apartment
Nawrocki recounted how he came to purchase the apartment.
“It was a very dynamic situation. The assistance I was providing began to exceed my capacity. Jerzy had his own issues, which I won’t discuss—he’s still a private individual and only became a public topic due to Trzaskowski’s campaign. He was someone for whom support seemed likely to yield positive results. Back in December 2011, Jerzy wrote me a letter asking for financial help. At that time, there was no apartment, no deal on the table—just his direct request for assistance. That letter shows the kind of relationship we had—one in which he could expect financial help from me,” Nawrocki said.
He also showed letters from Jerzy Ż., including one asking for 500 zł and another listing various personal needs, including a kettle, socks, and a shirt—demonstrating, as Nawrocki argued, that Jerzy continued to have unmet needs despite being under social care.
He emphasized that he acquired the apartment legally and, over a span of 14 years, provided Jerzy Ż. with financial support consistent with the terms of the sale agreement.
Caring for Jerzy Ż.
Nawrocki discussed the nature of the care he provided:
“The level of care I provided varied naturally depending on my responsibilities. After 2021, it decreased significantly because, as you know, I moved to Warsaw to become head of the Institute of National Remembrance. I searched for Jerzy Ż. on my own. I spoke with a neighbor. Legally, I wasn’t obligated to do this—but I’ve done it for years. I’m not Jerzy’s relative. I have no legal access to information about him. For many years, I was the only person besides municipal social services who could help him. If anyone else had truly wanted to help, they would have called the number Jerzy has had for 20 years—the one he used many times,” he said.
On the Caretaker’s Allegations
Nawrocki addressed the allegations made by the social services worker.
“I never received any information from that woman—because her intentions were entirely different. If you look at her social media, you’ll see she’s the same woman who accused me of having a child with a 16-year-old wife—calling me unfit for public office. She harbors deep animosity toward me and the party supporting me. If she had good intentions, she would’ve contacted me. Jerzy knows my number. Instead, she sent a letter to the Museum of the Second World War—which I never saw,” Nawrocki claimed.
He also rejected her assertion that Jerzy Ż. “lived in poverty.”
“I disagree. Yes, he lived modestly—so is the apartment modest. But if he was under the care of Gdańsk’s social services and still lived in ‘poverty,’ then clearly something isn’t working in Gdańsk. I provided assistance whenever needed—regardless of apartment ownership, which began in 2017. If my intentions were exploitative, what would I have done in 2017? Jerzy Ż. has lived in that apartment from 2017 to 2024. I’ve paid the bills regularly. I don’t have the keys. I haven’t benefited from it in any way,” he stated.
The Sale Agreement
Nawrocki also discussed the financial transaction involving the apartment.
“I transferred around 20,000 zł. There were some fees—legal, notarial. A preliminary sale agreement was signed. It outlines our obligations and references a market price of 120,000 zł. It guarantees that the money will be transferred to Jerzy Ż. in a specific form, factoring in already-incurred costs. This doesn’t include what I’ve done out of goodwill and within my means. Transferring the full 120,000 zł to Jerzy Ż. at once would have endangered his health and safety. The arrangement is legally sound. Lawyers advised me of that at the time. The amounts disbursed after such an agreement are managed between the involved parties. That’s a standard practice. I’ve been transferring the money in installments—beginning even before the agreement was formalized,” Nawrocki explained.