WARSAW, Poland – Congolese authorities have released Mariusz Majewski, a Polish man who was sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges in Congo, announced Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski on Tuesday.
Majewski, 52, has returned to Europe, Sikorski confirmed on X, though the exact location of his return was not disclosed. Sikorski shared a brief video of himself apparently speaking to Majewski over the phone to welcome him back.
The Polish national was detained in Congo in February and faced trial in a Congolese military court, accused of espionage. Last week, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, no details were provided regarding the location of his detention.
The allegations against Majewski included approaching the front line with Mobondo militiamen, unauthorized movement along the front line, taking photos of sensitive and strategic locations, and clandestinely observing military activities. The Mobondo militia has been implicated in intercommunal violence in southwestern Congo since 2022.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry maintains Majewski’s innocence, and President Andrzej Duda engaged in a phone conversation with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi last week, seeking Majewski’s release.
