Radosław Piesiewicz, president of PKOl, was detained in Warsaw on 27 August by CBZC officers and heard 2 criminal charges the same day. He's inactive holding his post. Deputy Minister of athletics Ireneusz Raś assessed that he should never be in charge of the committee, and the way out could be accelerated elections.
Stopping and 2 charges
Radosław Piesiewicz was detained at the request of the Silesian Faculty of abroad Prosecutor's Office. Officers of the Central Bureau for the Fight against Cybercrime transferred him to Katowice, where procedural proceedings were carried out. In the evening, Minister of Justice and lawyer General Waldemar Żurek informed that the prosecution had presented to the president of PKOl allegations under Article 230 par. 1 and Article 302 par. 1 of the Criminal Code.
The first concerns paid protection, the second concerns the satisfaction of a selected group of creditors with injury remaining in a situation of insolvency. These are prosecution charges, not a final sentence. Radosław Piesiewicz uses the presumption of innocence and only the court can find his responsibility. This limit must besides apply erstwhile the substance is very emotional.
Investigation around Zondacrypto
The investigation concerns Zondacrypto, a erstwhile sponsor general of the Polish Olympic Committee. Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice reportedthat the investigation was initiated on 17 April 2026 after reports of victims and reports of problems with the payment of funds. According to the April communication, the injury was at least PLN 350 million.
The scale of the proceedings is serious. In June, the prosecution reported more than 3,600 notices, nearly a 1000 victims interviewed, 162 devices secured, and over 250 TB of data. Investigators besides formed a joint squad with the Estonian side. These figures show that we are not dealing with a media trifle, but with a case that requires patient examination of documents, money flows and individual relationships.
In 1 of the side threads the media described a watch worth 40 1000 euros. Piesiewicz maintained that he bought it with his own money, paying cash in installments. The dispute over the watch and its relevance to the credibility of the president of the PCC So it goes beyond the luxury object itself. It is about transparency of the individual who heads the institution representing Polish sport.
PKOl can't pretend nothing happened
Detention and prosecution shall not automatically dismiss the President. Deputy Minister of athletics Ireneusz Raś pointed out that the management of the organization could be taken over by 1 of the vice presidents, and then accelerated elections could be held. He besides assessed straight that Piesiewicz should never become president of PKOl. The word of office of the current head of the committee is to end in early 2027.
This is no longer just an interior war of activists. PKOl performs under the Polish flag, attracts sponsors and is liable for the trust of athletes and fans. An institution of specified importance must have procedures that let for crisis action without violating the rights of the suspect. Silence and anticipation weaken the authority of Polish sport.
Equally crucial is the transparency of the state. An investigation cannot turn into a political showin which ministers issue media judgments before the court. The D.A. is expected to show evidence, the defence has the right to competition it, and the P.C.O. should settle its own management standards. Poland needs institutions that are strong by law and responsibility, not loyalty to names.
The stakes for Poles are clear. all euro, all sponsorship agreement and all decision taken on behalf of Polish athletics must be subject to control. The presumption of innocence protects a citizen from the will of power. organization work protects the community from paralysis and failure of trust. 1 without the another isn't enough.
Source: Kresy.pl, Regional Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, a message from the Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek.
