Poland's Judicial Outrage: Political Killer Freed While Conservatives Persecuted

A convicted political murderer is walking free in Poland after serving less than half of his life sentence, while conservative politicians and clerics face relentless persecution under Prime Minister

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his friend, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, are moving heaven and earth to bring their political opponents from the conservative PiS party to trial or imprisonment (and not just politicians, as priests are also being jailed), ideally inflicting maximum physical and psychological suffering along the way. Additionally, their judicial allies—largely rooted either in the communist judicial apparatus or ideologically aligned with the left (who, just a few years ago, protested judicial reforms proposed by conservatives)—are following Tusk's path of "militant democracy." MPs are sent to jail. Witnesses under interrogation are denied basic legal privileges (as in the tragic case of Ms. Barbara Skrzypek, which we've discussed previously). Standards and regulations are bent or outright broken; individuals involved in political cases are persecuted. "Militant" judges issue sentences reminiscent of communist times. Yet, if you're an opponent of PiS, no matter your crimes, you can count on preferential treatment. A scandalous example is the revelation by Telewizja Republika of the release of a murderer who, in a notorious case nearly a decade ago, cold-bloodedly killed a PiS activist. This was the most notorious political murder in Poland since communist times (when henchmen of the USSR murdered with impunity). Even more scandalously, Ryszard Cyba, who during an attack on a PiS office in Łódź in 2010 shot and killed PiS activist Marek Rosiak and then attempted to slaughter Paweł Kowalski with a hunting knife, was supposed to serve a life sentence but was released under suspicious circumstances after only 14 years. Almost immediately after release, Cyba was admitted to a psychiatric ward for threatening others with a dangerous weapon.

During the attack on the PiS office in Łódź, Ryszard Cyba shouted that he wanted to murder the leader of the conservative party, Jarosław Kaczyński. The madman's behavior was certainly motivated by the hate campaign that the liberal-left media has unleashed against conservatives.

On March 18, 2025, Ryszard Cyba was released from the Czarne Penitentiary, causing immediate public outrage in Poland. Cyba was originally sentenced to life imprisonment for a brutal political attack carried out on October 19, 2010, at a PiS parliamentary office in Łódź. During this attack, Cyba shot and killed Marek Rosiak, a conservative PiS activist, and seriously wounded another, Paweł Kowalski, with a hunting knife. Upon arrest, Cyba openly declared his political motives, shouting, "I wanted to kill Kaczyński, but my gun was too small," explicitly expressing his hatred for PiS. His sentence clearly stipulated he would not be eligible for early release until he reached the age of 90.

Despite this, Cyba was released after only 14 years in prison. Telewizja Republika exposed that the release lacked proper justification, mentioning only a vague "suspension of executive proceedings." The controversy escalated when, shortly after his release, Cyba was placed in a psychiatric hospital in Częstochowa due to threats he made involving a dangerous weapon.

Adding further controversy, “Rock Rachon We Rollin” host and author Michał Rachoń (who is also a host and director for Telewizja Republika) disclosed that Cyba received 6,578.36 PLN (approximately $1,600 USD) upon release. This financial compensation for a convicted murderer sparked widespread criticism and intensified questions about the fairness and impartiality of Poland’s justice system.

Addressing this situation, Małgorzata Paprocka, Chief of Staff to Polish President Andrzej Duda, described Cyba’s release as deeply troubling and symptomatic of broader judicial dysfunction. In comments made on Telewizja Republika, she expressed doubts about the justification given for Cyba’s early release based on his health condition, stating: "I must say that I am not fully convinced by these health-related explanations. According to the regulations, there are specialized prison hospital facilities designed exactly for such circumstances. If any exceptional situations arise, there are still secure methods to handle a dangerous criminal like him, ensuring he poses no risk to society."

Paprocka emphasized the seriousness of the issue, asserting, "The release of Ryszard Cyba perfectly illustrates the profound crisis within our judicial system. Judges are busy questioning each other's legitimacy, prosecutors operate amidst chaos, and serious crimes seem to be handled inconsistently."

She further questioned the priorities of the justice system, stating, "One must seriously ask whether the purpose of these judicial actions is truly about justice or if it's becoming a political performance intended to influence public opinion and electoral outcomes."

The early release and financial compensation of Cyba highlight alarming discrepancies and political biases within Poland’s judicial system. As the country grapples with accusations of political persecution and judicial chaos, these developments pose a significant challenge to Poland's democratic and judicial integrity.

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