Our whole nation lived with the story of Mariusz Majewski. The Pole was imprisoned within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DKR), and the native courtroom wished to condemn him to loss of life. He owes his freedom to his pals who appealed to the federal government for assist and to the Ministry of Overseas Affairs. The traveler accepted the invitation to Dzień Dobry TVN to inform our viewers concerning the nightmare he skilled in jail. We additionally hosted Mariola Ciach, Mariusz’s accomplice, on the sofas.
The nightmare of a traveler trapped within the Congo
Mariusz Majewski is an avid traveler. He was the primary Pole to set foot on the territory of all 193 UN member international locations (and the Vatican) earlier than the age of 40. He additionally skilled the longest day lasting 49 hours, which was acknowledged as an official Guinness report.
Sadly, the need to find the world might have ended tragically for Mariusz. On February 13, 2024, he left for Africa, and two days later he discovered himself within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His journey coincided with President Andrzej Duda’s go to to Rwanda, which triggered a wave of anti-Polish protests within the DRC. Allow us to recall that each international locations are engaged in an armed battle.
– I traveled across the DRC by automotive with a employed driver. Immediately, we have been stopped by the presidential guard for an everyday street examine. They they checked my passport and once they noticed that I used to be Polish, they arrested me – mentioned Mariusz on Dzień Dobry TVN.
The traveler was initially satisfied that every one this occurred as a result of he had not provided them any bribe. – Then, when issues began to take an surprising flip, I came upon that the matter was very severe. After I was thrown into jail and I requested to contact a lawyer and my household, I did they informed me I had no rights – reported our visitor.
Mariusz initially spent 5 weeks in an remoted jail within the DRC. – I had no contact with the skin world, I could not actually have a pen or paper. Then the general public trial started. The courtroom was the social gathering that supplied the interpreter. Nonetheless, he knew little or no English. My household employed a lawyer, however due to his dealing with of my case, he obtained loss of life threats. It was all a farce, the case was a present and broadcast on tv. AND society wished the loss of life penalty for meas a result of anti-Polish sentiments in Congo – he mentioned.
Our visitor has not but obtained an official verdict with causes. – On the final minute, the loss of life penalty was modified to life imprisonment, which continues to be in pressure. I’ve now obtained such info – he revealed.
The traveler doesn’t disguise the truth that on the time of those dramatic occasions he was satisfied that “it could not final lengthy.” – I misplaced contact with my household (…). I knew I might endure it for a while, however the environment in jail, the dearth of contact and the actual fact that I used to be harmless triggered my morale to drop considerably daily. I believe it might have ended in another way – he confessed.
After a while, Mariusz was transported to a different jail. – In that first jail, we have been ravenous and had no contact with the skin world. I shortly broke down, I did not wish to eat and I wished to finish myself. They shortly came upon, in order that they removed me and transferred me to a civilian jail, which was very harmful. There have been 15,000 prisoners in buildings supposed for 1,500 prisoners. It was a jail city. The prisoners inside dominated, and the administration was exterior. In keeping with the native authorities, this has a greater influence on the rehabilitation of prisoners – defined the traveler.
Launched from jail in Congo
The final time Mariusz contacted the household was February 16, 2024. After a month of silence, his accomplice Mariola Ciach discovered that he had been arrested. – For 5 weeks I had no concept what was taking place to Mariusz. Immediately there is a telephone name and I hear Mariusz’s voice. He then mentioned that they’d transferred him to a different jail and that he wanted cash for a mattress, Mariola mentioned.
Throughout a dialog along with his accomplice, the traveler requested her to examine whether or not there’s a Polish embassy in Kinshasa. – It even made me snort a bit of, as a result of throughout this time, along with our pals, we have been making an attempt to maneuver heaven and earth, all attainable embassies have been knowledgeable that Mariusz was lacking and we have been in search of him – she added.
In a dialog with us, Mariusz admitted that he noticed and skilled a nightmare in jail. – We’re all in remedy now. There are issues that I have never even informed Mariola about, I solely talk about them with the psychologist. Apart from, there are additionally issues that I can’t inform even you, as a result of I’m afraid for the security of my family members, he mentioned.
Now, with hindsight, Mariusz admitted that a number of components influenced his arrest. – To start with, I made a dangerous and tragic resolution to go away. I do know I did not take all of the circumstances under consideration, routine killed me. Thus far I have never had any disagreeable adventures and I have been making ready much less and fewer for the journey. There was additionally no info relating to the time wherein I went there – defined Mariusz.
Polish diplomacy was concerned in Mariusz’s launch, and Mariola was in fixed contact with representatives of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs. Now the traveler is beneath sentence. As well as, he has to pay a wonderful of $10 million. Not solely can he not return to the DRC, but in addition to different international locations from which he can be prone to deportation. – I am nonetheless ready for the listing of those international locations. I care about being acquitted. I wish to be an harmless man – he mentioned.
– There are two choices. The official method, i.e. via the assistance of our authorities, and the much less official method, i.e. the assistance of non-governmental organizations. These two paths can function independently of one another – added Mariusz.
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Creator: Anna Gondecka
Supply of the primary photograph: Michał Woźniak/East Information
