Polish National Released from Life Sentence in Congo on Espionage Charges

WARSAW, Poland — Congolese authorities have released Mariusz Majewski, a Polish man who was sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski announced on Tuesday.

Sikorski shared the news on the social media platform X, stating that Majewski is now back in Europe. He also posted a brief video of himself apparently speaking to Majewski over the phone, welcoming him back. The exact location of Majewski was not disclosed.

Majewski, 52, was detained by Congolese forces in February and subsequently faced a military court in the Central African nation, where he was accused of spying. He received a life sentence last week. The specifics of his detention location were not released.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry had protested Majewski’s innocence, and President Andrzej Duda had spoken with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to secure Majewski’s release. Poland does not maintain a diplomatic mission in Congo.

Last week, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski asserted that Majewski “is not a spy, he is a member of a travelers club” and was simply following his “passion in life.” Wronski explained that Majewski’s predicament resulted from a series of coincidental events and a lack of understanding of local customs.

Earlier this month, the Congolese army announced it had thwarted a coup attempt and arrested the perpetrators, including several foreigners. Among those detained were also several U.S. citizens.

Majewski’s release marks the end of a tense diplomatic effort to bring him back home, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by travelers in politically unstable regions.