In Poland, the current Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, has been criminally charged with embezzlement of entrusted funds and actions aimed at hindering debt collection. For the most serious of the imputed offenses, he faces up to 10 years of imprisonment.
This was reported on November 10 by the National Prosecutor's Office of Poland. RMF24 was the first to report on the charges against the official.
As clarified by the prosecutor's office, the charges against Bartoszewski were officially presented back on November 4. They relate to financial operations that the politician carried out while managing the funds of the renowned Polish patron of the arts and art collector Andrzej Ciechanowiecki and the Non Omnis Moriar foundation.
According to the investigation, in 2012-2015 Bartoszewski embezzled funds totaling 1 million pounds sterling, 405 thousand euros, and almost 6.7 million zlotys.
The prosecutor's office claims that part of the money may have been used by the official for personal needs, and part – for the purchase, renovation, and furnishing of three apartments in Warsaw. The real estate was registered to a company owned by Bartoszewski and his wife.
Subsequently, the apartments were sold, but the proceeds, according to the investigation, were not returned to the owner.
The second charge relates to the possible concealment and alienation of property to prevent satisfying the creditor's claims. According to the prosecutor's office, Bartoszewski carried out a series of transactions with real estate and family assets, including changing the spouses' community property regime and transferring property.
Investigators believe that these actions may have been aimed at avoiding the enforcement of an unfavorable court decision. Similar charges were brought against the official's wife.
In March 2024, the Warsaw District Court ruled to recover from Bartoszewski more than 13.2 million zlotys plus interest in favor of the foundation. This decision has not entered into legal force.
Bartoszewski himself did not admit guilt and provided investigators with brief explanations. His wife also denied the charges. The prosecutor's office has not applied any preventive measures against the spouses.
Bartoszewski is a deputy of the Polish Sejm from the Polish People's Party (PSL). In October 2026, he voluntarily waived his parliamentary immunity, which allowed the prosecutor's office to officially charge him.
Currently, the matter is at the stage of criminal investigation. The guilt of the official has not been established by the court.
Based on materials from: National Prosecutor's Office of Poland, RMF24
