A Polish man, wrongly convicted of espionage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been released and is back in Europe, Polish authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Mariusz Majewski, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Congolese military court last week.
The Polish Foreign Ministry, however, maintained his innocence, describing him as an “avid traveller.”
“Mariusz Majewski, the Pole wrongfully convicted and detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now safe in Europe,” Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced on a social media platform (formerly Twitter).
He shared a video clip of a phone conversation with Majewski, confirming his safe return.
Pawel Wronski, a spokesperson for the Polish Foreign Ministry, told reporters that Majewski was currently at the Polish consulate in Brussels.
The situation unfolded rapidly. Just last Friday, the Foreign Ministry announced Majewski’s life sentence on espionage charges.
Polish media reported that he was accused of photographing sensitive areas, observing military activity, and approaching the frontline of the DRC’s conflict with militant groups.
Details on Majewski’s activities in the DRC remain unclear.
However, Polish media reports suggest he is a seasoned traveler with a remarkable accomplishment: visiting all 193 UN member states, including North Korea.
