Arrested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and wrongfully convicted Pole, Mr Mariusz Majewski, is now safe in Europe. This morning we could yet talk – said Minister of abroad Affairs Radosław Sikorski on his social media on Tuesday.
Mariusz Majewski was detained by the services of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on suspicion of sabotage. Interia.pl portal learned from his relatives that a trial was conducted against him during which the prosecutor claimed the death penalty. Majewski was sentenced to life imprisonment. Investigators say the Pole approached the front line and moved on it without appropriate approval and without the company of qualified agents. He was besides to take photographs of delicate and strategical locations and secretly observe military activities.
He didn't know the customs.
Ministry of abroad Affairs press secretary Paweł Wroński defended Majewski by saying that he is simply a traveller pursuing his passions, who did not know “local customs”.
At the same time, the Ministry of abroad Affairs has for a long time warned against travelling to any parts of Central Africa.
The high-risk areas are the Pool Region and the provinces of Likoula and Sangha. In the Pool region there are armed rebels who periodically raid travellers (also along the Brazzaville-Pointe-Noire railway line). Likoula borders the state of Equator (Democratic Republic of Congo), which in the past was controlled by rebels. In turn, there are exile camps from the Central African Republic in Sangha. As the situation in the Central African Republic remains tense, travelling to northeastern regions may be dangerous – read on gov.pl.
Unfortunate Diplomacy
Traveler Mariusz Majewski accuses president Andrzej Duda of his problems. His unfortunate diplomacy, statements, behaviour caused the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to believe that we are engaged not only politically but besides militarily in the conflict that this country is conducting in the east – explained the traveller on Polish Radio.
In February, the president made a journey to Africa, visiting neighboring Rwanda. During his visit, Andrzej Duda signed 2 economical agreements with Rwandan president Paul Kagame. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, part of the public felt that Poland was supporting Rwanda, in fact supporting the March 23 movement (M23), which consists of deserters from the national army.
Let us remind that thanks to the efforts of Andrzej Duda and diplomats Mariusz Majewski could return to the country. Minister Wojciech Kolarski informed in an interview with RMF FM radio on Monday that president Andrzej Duda had an interview with president Kong, Félix Tshisekedi.
It is the work of the Polish State to take care of life, the wellness of Polish citizens who are in specified a dramatic situation said Kolarski.
