Former Polish PM’s close associate detained in London

WARSAW (Reuters) – A former top Polish official who worked closely with ex-prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki was detained in London on Monday, a spokesperson for the Polish prosecution said, adding that prosecutors were seeking his swift extradition to Poland.

The man, identified by prosecutors as Michal K., faces accusations in Poland of taking part in an organised criminal group and of failing to fulfil his duties as a public servant in order to obtain financial gain. He has previously denied the accusations against him.

Polish law does not allow for the publication of the last name of a person accused in criminal proceedings. Michal K., who was detained under an international arrest warrant, is the former head of Poland’s Strategic Reserves Agency.

“A decision must be taken quickly on his temporary arrest for the purpose of these extradition proceedings, and then there will be a procedure to surrender him based on this warrant, but this is a decision of the British court,” National Public Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Anna Adamiak said.

Poland’s pro-European government has made a priority of holding to account officials from the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) administration it suspects of wrongdoing.

Morawiecki has repeatedly praised Michal K. for his work, including organising a military hub at the Rzeszow airport in eastern Poland after the war in neighbouring Ukraine began, and has said the charges against him were political.

Polish media reported that the agency he had headed signed several contracts with a private clothing company without holding tenders for items ranging from protective equipment during the COVID pandemic to power generators for Ukraine.

There was no immediate comment from Morawiecki on Monday but PiS condemned Michal K.’s detention.

“This is a political attack on the head of an agency who supported Ukraine by providing it with necessary equipment,” PiS said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

The detention comes days after Warsaw asked the European Parliament to strip another former top aide of Morawiecki, Michal Dworczyk, of his immunity as an EU lawmaker, in a separate case involving alleged obstruction of justice.