CBA detains former PFN board members Świrski and Jurkiewicz over 2017 'Sprawiedliwe sądy' campaign funding
Two former members of the Polish National Foundation board, Maciej Świrski and Cezary Jurkiewicz, were arrested by the CBA on Tuesday morning. The investigation concerns abuse of powers in financing a 2017 media campaign, allegedly causing a loss of at least PLN 8.4 million.
Tuesday morning arrests
Early on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, officers from Poland’s Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) detained two former members of the Polish National Foundation’s management board. The operation was executed on the order of the prosecutor of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Rzeszów. Jacek Dobrzyński, the spokesman for the government’s minister coordinator of special services, announced the arrests via social media. He identified the two individuals as 64-year-old Maciej Ś. and 63-year-old Cezary J., both of whom had served on the PFN board. The CBA confirmed that following searches and evidence collection, the detainees would be transferred to the prosecutor’s office in Rzeszów later in the day.
This morning, on the order of the prosecutor of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Rzeszów, agents of the Central Anticorruption Bureau detained two former members of the Polish National Foundation: 64-year-old Maciej Ś. and 63-year-old Cezary J.
The investigation and the ‘Sprawiedliwe sądy’ campaign
The probe focuses on events from 2017, when PFN board members are suspected of abusing their powers and neglecting their duties in connection with financing a media campaign titled “Sprawiedliwe sądy” (“Fair Courts”). Dobrzyński stated that the actions caused “significant property damage” to the foundation, with losses estimated at no less than PLN 8.4 million (about EUR 1.8 million). The exact mechanics of the alleged misuse of funds have not been made public, but the campaign name suggests it was related to judicial reform messaging, a highly politicised topic in Poland at that time.
The investigation is being conducted into the abuse of powers and failure to fulfil obligations in 2017 by members of the management board of the Polish National Foundation in connection with the financing of the media campaign 'Sprawiedliwe sądy', which caused significant property damage to the foundation in the amount of not less than PLN 8.4 million.
The Polish National Foundation was established in 2016 by 17 state-owned companies, including energy and infrastructure giants. Its statutory mission was to promote Poland’s image abroad, build the national brand, and support the Polish economy. The “Sprawiedliwe sądy” campaign, however, appears to have been a domestic messaging effort, raising questions about whether such spending fell within the foundation’s original purpose.
- PFN established by 17 state-owned companies
- PFN board finances 'Sprawiedliwe sądy' campaign
- Maciej Świrski appointed to KRRiT
- Sejm resolution suspends Świrski and brings him before the State Tribunal, Agnieszka Glapiak becomes KRRiT chair
- CBA detains Świrski and Jurkiewicz, transfer to Rzeszów prosecutor
Świrski’s dual role and suspension from KRRiT
Maciej Świrski is widely known as a member of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), Poland’s media regulator. He joined the KRRiT in September 2022 and later became its chairman. His term ran into turbulence when the Polish parliament, the Sejm, passed a resolution on 25 July 2025 to bring him before the State Tribunal, an extraordinary body that examines alleged violations of the constitution by high-ranking officials. As a consequence of that resolution, Świrski was suspended from performing his duties at the KRRiT, and Agnieszka Glapiak was elected as the council’s new chairwoman. Świrski, however, retained his formal membership of the council.
The current detention is not directly linked to his KRRiT post but to his earlier role as a PFN board member. The involvement of a sitting regulator in a corruption probe adds a layer of institutional sensitivity, though the KRRiT has not yet commented on the arrests.
What comes next
After the searches and seizures, the two detainees will be transported to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Rzeszów, where prosecutors will decide on formal charges. The CBA has not released further details about the evidence gathered. The investigation continues, and additional suspects or charges could emerge as the case progresses. The Regional Prosecutor's Office is expected to question the detainees and potentially present charges related to mismanagement or fraud. The case has drawn attention because of Świrski's high profile as a media regulator. The foundation itself has not issued a statement at the time of reporting.
