Sikorski reacts to testimony on Nawrocki's past, sparking anger among president's supporters

Reaction to foreign minister's comments

The disclosure by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski of details from the court hearing concerning President Karol Nawrocki's past triggered a wave of outrage among his supporters.

This discussion unfolded against the backdrop of a court case linked to the article "Karol Nawrocki and the secrets of the 'Grand Hotel'", published by the Onet portal in May 2025. Journalists Andrzej Stankevich and Jacek Harlukovich cited testimony from individuals who claimed that Nawrocki, while working as a security guard at the Grand Hotel in Sopot, allegedly organised prostitution services for the establishment's guests.

Marcin Pshydach, head of the President of Poland's International Policy Bureau, reacted to Sikorski's remarks. In a post on the social network X, he asked: "How do you put it correctly: a boor, a simpleton, or a primitive?"

Radosław Fogel, a deputy from the opposition party Law and Justice, also joined the exchange. He commented on the situation with the words: "Is the minister solving a crossword puzzle or thinking about changing his career path?"

President's position and the course of the court proceedings

Karol Nawrocki rejected the allegations set out in the Onet materials. He filed a lawsuit against the publisher, the company Ringier Axel Springer Polska, arguing that the publication violated his personal rights. In the statement of claim, the president demands the publication of an apology.

On 27 October, the public was given access for the first time to details of the court session held at the Warsaw District Court. The declassification of the case materials became possible due to a motion by the media portal's lawyers.

Testimony of a former hotel employee

One of the witnesses in this case was Natasha Heldon, who previously worked in the security service of the Grand Hotel alongside Karol Nawrocki. The woman described in detail a situation that, according to her, she observed while on duty at the reception.

«Я помітила, що Кароль заходить до готелю з жінкою та чоловіком. Це було нетипово, адже ми, як охорона, не проводжали гостей до готелю» (I noticed that Karol was entering the hotel with a woman and a man. This was unusual, as we, being security, did not escort guests into the hotel), she testified.

According to Heldon, all three were talking to each other and then took the elevator to the floors designated for hotel guests. «Вони йшли втрьох, розмовляли між собою. Ситуація була досить невимушеною. Потім вони піднялися ліфтом на поверхи, призначені для гостей готелю» (They walked in a group of three, talking to each other. The situation was quite relaxed. Then they took the elevator to the floors designated for hotel guests), the witness added.

She emphasised that escorting guests to the elevator, "let alone going up with them", was not part of the security staff's duties.

Heldon recounted that she later asked Nawrocki about what she had seen. According to her, she heard that one could earn money by bringing girls. This conversation strengthened her conviction that she had witnessed illegal activity.

«Я тоді була молодою дівчиною, мені було 19 років. Тож коли я помітила цю жінку та чоловіка з Каролем, у мене склалося враження, що це сутенер із повією. Пізніша розмова з Каролем ще більше мене в цьому переконала» (I was a young girl then, I was 19 years old. So when I noticed this woman and man with Karol, I got the impression that it was a pimp with a prostitute. A later conversation with Karol convinced me of this even more), the witness stated in court.