Former Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak heard allegations of breach of powers due to the declassified and usage of fragments of the operational plan of the Polish Armed Forces "Warta".
According to the prosecution, Błaszczak's actions were political in nature and put you at serious risk. A politician pleads not guilty and claims to have acted legally.
Yesterday, in the 8th Division for Military Affairs of the territory Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw, Mariusz Błaszczak was declared charged. The proceedings were possible after the Sejm had previously waived parliamentary immunity. The Prosecutor's Office accuses him of exceeding his powers in the period from 28 July to 17 September 2023, as Minister of National Defence, by abolishing the clauses "Highly Secret" and "Secret" from fragments of papers on strategical operational planning.
According to the Secretary of the territory Attorney's Office in Warsaw, 17 September 2023. Błaszczak was to publically disclose and usage these materials in an election run – among others on the authoritative profile of Law and Justice on platform X. The aim was to accomplish political benefits by his group. According to investigators, this action "has caused a peculiarly serious harm to the Republic of Poland", threatening its sovereignty, safety and global position, as well as undermining the cohesion of NATO.
The charges were based on Article 231(2) of the Code of Conduct in conjunction with Article 265(1) of the Code of Conduct in conjunction with Articles 11(2) and 12(1) of the Code of Conduct.
Hearing and position of the defence
Mariusz Błaszczak was interviewed in the presence of 3 defenders. He did not confess to the alleged act. He made brief explanations, answering only the questions of his defence team. He refused to answer the prosecutor's questions. The activities were recorded at the request of the defenders. Before the hearing, they besides requested the exclusion of the investigating prosecutor, arguing deficiency of impartiality. This claim was rejected as unfounded.
Blaszczak: “It’s a hucpa. If I were to make a decision again – I would do the same”
After the hearing, Błaszczak expressed his position before the media.
“I had the right, but besides the work to declassified archival materials,” he said. “If I were to make that decision again, I would surely make it.”
He described the allegations as ‘unwarranted’ and called the full case a political show.
"We have a hucpa in our country. Rulers can't rule, so they organize games. The fact will prevail, I am convinced of it," stated the erstwhile head of the MON.
For this moment, Mariusz Błaszczak remains the only fishy in the case. The prosecution does not regulation out any further action, but does not inform about the possible extension of the investigation. The decisions of the court and further examination of evidence will now be crucial.
