Deputy Inspector Tomasz Waszczuk, serving on the eastern border, is still suffering the consequences of actions taken in the course of his duties.
In February 2022, an officer refused entry to Civic Coalition MPs Klaudia Jachira and Urszula Zielińska into a closed border zone. At that time, there was a massive influx of immigrants attempting to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, and special security regulations were in place in the region. Following this incident, the MPs received a report from the prosecutor’s office regarding a possible crime involving the officer’s alleged abuse of power.
After analyzing the evidence, the prosecutor’s office found none indicating a prohibited act. Initially, it refused to initiate an investigation, and then, after re-examining the case, discontinued the proceedings.
However, our client’s situation changed after the October 15, 2023, elections. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Ostrów Mazowiecka charged the deputy inspector with committing an offense under Article 231 § 1 of the Penal Code, indicating that he had “unjustifiably” refused entry to the MPs to Białowieża region on February 3, 2022.
In the following years, criminal proceedings against the officer were repeatedly started and dismissed. Eventually, in July 2025, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Białystok again withdrew the indictment.
In the meantime, Mr. Tomasz Waszczuk—out of fear of the consequences of the ongoing proceedings—decided to leave the Police after 28 years of service.
The repeated initiation and dismissal of proceedings extended legal uncertainty, and the threat of criminal liability despite the lack of clear evidence highlights the need for proper oversight of law enforcement activities. These cases also emphasize the importance of professional legal representation for officers who, when carrying out their duties in crises, need to be confident that the law will not be used as a tool of political pressure.