Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Wednesday that prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek, who questioned Skrzypek on March 12, has been placed under protection after receiving criminal threats from political opponents.
Autopsy confirms heart attack as cause of death
Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Skrzypek, a longtime aide to Kaczyński, who leads the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, died on Saturday, March 15, at the age of 66 due to a severe heart attack.
There were no mechanical injuries that could have contributed to her sudden death, officials said.
“The cause of death was circulatory failure due to a massive heart attack affecting the posterior wall of the heart, with the presence of a blood clot and impaired blood flow in the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery,” Warsaw-Praga District Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Norbert A. Woliński told reporters.
Although Skrzypek’s family did not consent to the autopsy, the decision was made by the prosecutor overseeing the case.
Opposition hits out at prosecutor
Kaczyński and other PiS politicians have claimed that Skrzypek’s death may be linked to her being questioned by Wrzosek on Wednesday, March 12, arguing that she suffered from health issues and was not allowed to be accompanied by her legal representative during questioning.
Wrzosek denied these allegations, saying that the questioning session was conducted in a friendly atmosphere and that neither Skrzypek nor her attorney raised any objections.
Both the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office and Wrzosek have announced legal action against those making such claims.
Prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek (pictured) was placed under protection two days later after receiving criminal threats, the Polish interior ministry said on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
Justice minister rejects opposition's allegations
Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar on Tuesday strongly opposed accusations linking Skrzypek’s death to her questioning.
He told broadcaster TVP Info that the state must conduct a transparent investigation, and that the ongoing probe, along with the release of a transcript of Skrzypek's testiomony, aims to prevent misinformation.
“The political exploitation of a personal and family tragedy that Skrzypek’s loved ones are now facing shows a complete lack of empathy and sensitivity,” Bodnar said in a social media post.
Justice Minister Adam Bodnar arriving for a government meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Warsaw, Poland, March 18, 2025. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
President demands clarification from PM
On March 12, Skrzypek was questioned for over four hours. Her legal representative was barred from participating in the questioning—a routine practice, according to legal experts, but heavily criticized by the PiS party.
After the questioning, Skrzypek signed her statement and left the prosecutor's office without raising concerns about the process or her health, aside from difficulty reading without glasses, according to reports.
President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Donald Tusk about the circumstances of Skrzypek’s questioning.
On Wednesday, Ombudsman Marcin Wiącek also requested information from the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office about the procedure.
Barbara Skrzypek’s death in Poland is being politicized by the opposition, which is attempting to tie it to her recent questioning in a case that could potentially harm right-wing leader Jarosław Kaczyński. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
Skrzypek worked closely with Kaczyński for over 30 years. She held key positions within the party and the Lech Kaczyński Institute, named after Kaczyński’s twin brother, who died in 2010.
On March 12, Skrzypek was questioned as part of an investigation led by Wrzosek into an alleged EUR 1.3 million fraud case involving Jarosław Kaczyński and Austrian businessman Gerald Birgfellner.
The case centers around what has been described as plans for the construction of Srebrna Tower skyscrapers in Warsaw by Kaczyński and his political camp.
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Source: IAR/PAP/X/@Adbodnar
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