President Nawrocki pardons Legia Warsaw fan 'Staruch', drawing sharp criticism from Tusk and government

The clemency decisions

On 3 August 2026, President Karol Nawrocki exercised his constitutional power of clemency for three individuals: Adam Borowski, a former democratic opposition activist; Piotr Pytel, serving a life sentence in Germany; and Piotr Staruchowicz, known as "Staruch", a prominent Legia Warsaw supporter. For Staruchowicz, the pardon lifted a two-year stadium ban imposed by a Lublin court after he was found in a non-public area during a Motor Lublin vs Legia Warsaw match in March 2025. The ban was due to expire in one year. The presidential chancellery said the decision followed analysis of case files and opinions from courts and prosecutors. Officials had initially doubted whether clemency could apply to a petty offence but concluded it could.

Political backlash

Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacted sharply on social media, writing:

Some pardons say more about presidents than all their speeches combined.

Although he did not name Staruchowicz, the comment was widely interpreted as a reference to that pardon. Government spokesman Adam Szłapka told reporters that while clemency is an exclusive presidential prerogative, the decision was "absurd" and revealed a "very strong emotional connection" between Nawrocki and the fan. He noted that Staruchowicz had called into a live broadcast in December 2025, asking then president-elect Nawrocki for a pardon. Szłapka also criticised Nawrocki's overall record, calling his first year in office "a very bad year" marked by frequent vetoes that, he said, harmed defence and energy policy. Interior minister Marcin Kierwiński said the pardon "shows what kind of Poland President Nawrocki dreams of," while deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk called it "like spitting in the face of police officers."

Presidential defence

Presidential spokesman Rafał Leśkiewicz dismissed the criticism, telling journalists that the president does not need to justify his clemency decisions.

Hands off the president's prerogatives. This is the democratic legal order described in the Polish constitution, and the president has the right to apply it.

He added that Nawrocki had granted clemency seven times and refused it five times during his first year in office. Leśkiewicz accused the government of regularly violating the constitution and said the president would not be intimidated by "posts, tweets, threats or any attempts at manipulation."

Who is 'Staruch'?

Piotr Staruchowicz, born in 1983, is a well-known figure among Legia Warsaw ultras, a tattoo artist, and the son of a journalist. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and cultural studies. The offence for which he was pardoned was a petty offence under the mass event safety law: he was on a fence during the match, leading chants, and was fined 2,500 złoty. The pardon lifted the remaining stadium ban. His lawyer, Krzysztof Wąsowski, confirmed the clemency. The head of the National Bar Council, Przemysław Rosati, said the authority of the clemency instrument had been undermined, arguing that it should be reserved for truly exceptional cases.

The other two cases

Adam Borowski, a former anti-communist opposition activist, had been sentenced to six months in prison for defaming lawyer and Civic Coalition MP Roman Giertych. Piotr Pytel, convicted in Munich in 2006 for murder combined with robbery and a separate robbery, was conditionally released from his life sentence. His conviction stands; the clemency does not overturn the German verdict. A separate man, Tomasz W., had confessed to the killing and said Pytel was not involved, but the German court has not reopened the case.