Gdańsk prosecutor drops investigation into Nawrocki's use of museum apartments, finding no crime

Investigation discontinued

The Gdańsk Regional Prosecutor's Office announced on 12 August 2026 that it had discontinued its investigation into whether Karol Nawrocki, now President of Poland, exceeded his authority as director of the Museum of World War II in Gdańsk by allowing free use of museum apartments. The prosecutor found that the act did not contain elements of a prohibited crime. The decision is not yet final, meaning it could theoretically be appealed.

The investigation was opened on 24 February 2025 and covered the period from 18 October 2017 to June 2024. It examined the actions of museum directors, focusing on whether Nawrocki used a de luxe apartment in the museum's hotel complex for over half a year without paying, despite living approximately 5 kilometres away.

Origins of the case

The case originated from an article published on Wyborcza.pl titled "Karol Nawrocki przez pół roku mieszkał w apartamencie Muzeum II Wojny. Nie zapłacił ani grosza" (Karol Nawrocki lived in a museum apartment for half a year. He did not pay a penny). After the publication, Civic Coalition MP Roman Giertych filed a crime notification alleging that Nawrocki, between 2018 and 2021, used museum rooms and apartments offered commercially without charge, thereby causing financial harm to the institution for his personal benefit.

Nawrocki explained during the campaign that he spent a 10-day quarantine in the apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic while performing his duties. Historian Sławomir Cenckiewicz described the affair as the nail of the campaign.

Evidence gathered

Prosecutors questioned 41 witnesses, including 37 current and former museum employees, some of whom were questioned more than once. Nawrocki himself was questioned as a witness in mid-July 2026. Investigators secured reservation printouts, employee email correspondence, a copy of the director's office calendar, and documentation related to duties, leave, sick leave, and quarantines of individual directors. They also obtained NIK (Supreme Audit Office) control files on the museum's financial management and questioned NIK inspectors.

Analysis of the reservation system identified 205 days reserved with annotations reading "Dyrektor" or "Pan Dyrektor," most frequently for apartment number 78 de Luxe.

Prosecutor's reasoning

Prosecutor Mariusz Duszyński, spokesperson for the Gdańsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, stated that the museum's own statutes empowered the director to grant fee waivers and exemptions for room and apartment rentals, and that this authority was not conditional on any specific requirements. He said the gathered evidence did not establish beyond doubt that Nawrocki actually resided in the apartments in the ordinary sense of renting them, which would have allowed charging him for maintenance costs.

“It cannot be said that a public official exceeded their authority when, on the basis of orders issued in accordance with the Museum's Statute, the Director of the Museum could grant reliefs and exemptions from fees for the rental of rooms and apartments.”

Prosecutors also found it was not established beyond doubt that Nawrocki was aware of the "Pan Dyrektor" entries made by reception staff in the reservation system.

Political reactions

Paweł Szefernaker, Chief of the Presidential Cabinet and Nawrocki's former campaign chief, said the case was intended to destroy Nawrocki and force a change of candidate.

“It was supposed to be a political bomb that would destroy Karol Nawrocki and lead to a change of candidate.”

Szefernaker added that the truth had prevailed and that Nawrocki is now President of Poland. Nawrocki himself, asked by a TVN24 reporter, reacted dismissively, calling it a political farce but a pleasant piece of news if the case was dropped. He said he had so many proceedings against him that he did not worry about them at all.