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Polish prosecutors reopen probe into alleged misuse of Red Cross funds tied to PiS MEP Anna Zalewska

24.10.2025 16:30
Investigators are examining whether stolen funds from the Polish Red Cross branch in Wrocław, southwestern Poland, were used to finance the election campaigns of Anna Zalewska and other politicians from the populist, right-wing Law and Justice party.
Money laundering allegations have prompted Polish prosecutors to reopen an investigation into the Wrocław Red Cross, probing whether stolen charity funds were used to finance election campaigns tied to PiS MEP Anna Zalewska.
Money laundering allegations have prompted Polish prosecutors to reopen an investigation into the Wrocław Red Cross, probing whether stolen charity funds were used to finance election campaigns tied to PiS MEP Anna Zalewska.Aleksiej Witwicki / Forum/PCK

According to Gazeta Wyborcza, prosecutors have launched a new money laundering investigation focusing on whether misappropriated charity funds helped bankroll PiS campaigns.

The case, which resurfaced after being overlooked under former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, dates back to the 2010s, when millions of zloty were allegedly siphoned from the charity through fake companies and the resale of donated clothing.

Several former PiS officials linked to the local Red Cross branch were convicted earlier this year for embezzlement.

Prokuratura wraca do wątków afery we wrocławskim PCK. 🟥WIĘCEJ:...

Opublikowany przez Gazeta Wyborcza Czwartek, 23 października 2025

Evidence found during earlier searches - including campaign materials from the party’s 2014 local and 2015 parliamentary elections - prompted renewed scrutiny of possible links between PiS activities and the missing funds.

Zalewska, a former education minister in the government of Prime Minister Beata Szydło, has denied any involvement in the alleged scheme.

As TVN24 recalled, a previous investigation into the Wrocław branch, which included former PiS MP Piotr B. and other local party officials, had been closed in 2018 without charges related to alleged illegal funding of local election campaigns in 2014.

On Friday, October 24, PiS members gathered in Katowice, southern Poland, to begin a two-day party program conference. 

(mp)

Source: GW/TVN24