Legal proceedings against Piotr Niemczyk

Piotr Niemczyk, a former intelligence officer and opposition activist, was taken into custody in Warsaw following a court ruling related to a May 2025 climate protest organized by ‘Ostatnie Pokolenie’. The protest involved activists blocking bridge traffic to highlight the climate crisis. While 26 participants received community service sentences, Niemczyk and Paweł Kasprzak refused to comply, resulting in the court replacing their community service with 15-day terms of arrest.

Kasprzak criticized the proceedings, claiming the conversion of community service to imprisonment was unlawful and that Niemczyk’s involvement was distinct because a leg injury meant he was standing on the sidewalk rather than in the roadway.

Subsequently, the Polish Ombudsman filed a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court to overturn Niemczyk’s conviction. The Ombudsman argues that police video footage contradicts the charges of obstructing traffic, showing Niemczyk on the sidewalk and complying with police instructions. The appeal asserts that the summary procedure was inappropriate and has requested that the Supreme Court stay the execution of the sentence.