The soldier, a second lieutenant, was cleared by the Warsaw Garrison Military Court, which found no negligence in his service at the border, Kosiniak-Kamysz said in a post on X.
The case dates to November 2023, when the soldier, who was supporting the Border Guard and police in protecting the border with Belarus, accidentally shot a Syrian citizen from a group that had crossed the border illegally.
'No Polish soldier will be left without assistance'
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the soldier had received legal assistance from the outset as well as support from the Military Team for the Protection of Soldiers' Rights.
"A soldier who is performing his duties cannot be left alone, even in a difficult situation," the defence minister wrote, adding that "no Polish soldier will be left without assistance."
The shooting was reported by Polish news website onet.pl, which said the gun discharged accidentally when the soldier fell while pursuing migrants through a forest.
The Syrian man was injured by the unintended gunfire and, according to witnesses cited by onet.pl, was immediately given medical assistance by the soldiers.
The investigation was conducted by the military police, which initially found no grounds to detain the soldier.
A lawyer acting on behalf of the injured Syrian later filed a report with prosecutors, according to onet.pl. The ensuing proceedings led to the soldier being charged with careless handling of a firearm and unintentionally causing bodily injury, it said.
The Warsaw Garrison Military Court acquitted the soldier on Wednesday.
(gs)
Source: IAR/PAP