The Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office said on Tuesday that Macierewicz, a prominent politician with the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, had been charged with publicly insulting the leadership of the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) and defaming senior officials in a way that could damage their public standing.
The case concerns remarks Macierewicz made in Poland’s parliament on September 11, 2025, during a debate on Russian drones violating Polish airspace.
The debate followed a briefing by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
According to the official parliamentary transcript, Macierewicz told MPs at the time that "the leadership of the Military Counterintelligence Service continues to consist of Russian agents appointed by Donald Tusk in 2011."
Macierewicz said: “These are people who cooperated with Russian special services. How long will you tolerate them? How long will you support them?”
Prosecutor Mateusz Martyniuk, spokesman for the Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office, said the remarks insulted the head of the Military Counterintelligence Service, Brig. Gen. Jarosław Stróżyk, and his deputies, Col. Krzysztof Dusza and Col. Artur Pluto.
Prosecutors say the comments accused public officials of conduct that could humiliate them in the eyes of the public and expose them to a loss of trust needed to hold their posts.
The Military Counterintelligence Service is one of Poland’s security services and is responsible for protecting the armed forces against espionage and other internal threats.
Prosecutors have accused Macierewicz of two offenses. One carries a possible prison sentence of up to three years. The other is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty or up to one year in prison.
The complaint was filed by the leadership of the Military Counterintelligence Service.
Martyniuk said Macierewicz had pleaded not guilty and refused to give explanations.
Prosecutors were able to bring charges after MPs lifted Macierewicz’s parliamentary immunity in late April. In Poland, lawmakers are protected from criminal prosecution unless parliament agrees to remove that protection in a specific case.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP