WARSAW, December 25, 2025 – Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has temporarily relieved Jan Emeryk Rościszewski of his duties as Ambassador to France following the diplomat's detention by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) in connection with an investigation into fraudulent MBA degrees issued by the private university Collegium Humanum. The decision, announced on Wednesday, December 24, comes as part of a broader probe into corruption and document forgery that has implicated numerous public officials, politicians, and business figures.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór confirmed the suspension to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), stating that Sikorski's move would remain in effect "until all suspicions are resolved." Wewiór emphasized that the ministry does not comment on actions by law enforcement or the judiciary, adding that Rościszewski, who began his ambassadorship in spring 2022, had "placed himself at the minister’s disposal" amid the developments.
Rościszewski was detained on Tuesday, December 23, upon arrival at Warsaw's Frédéric Chopin Airport. According to reports, he was subsequently transported to Katowice for questioning by prosecutors overseeing the case. He was released after providing extensive explanations, with proceedings lasting into the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement issued to PAP, Rościszewski vehemently denied any involvement with Collegium Humanum: "I never studied at Collegium Humanum and am not a graduate of that university." He listed his actual qualifications, including studies at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), the prestigious Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), and the Wyższa Szkoła Menedżerska in Warsaw. He pledged full cooperation with prosecutors, expressing hope for a swift resolution and consenting to the publication of his full name and statement.
The allegations against Rościszewski center on the purported use of a fraudulent MBA credential to qualify for a position on the supervisory board of Bank Pocztowy, a subsidiary of the state-owned postal service Poczta Polska. Under Polish law amended in 2017, possession of an MBA degree serves as an alternative qualification for serving on supervisory boards of state-owned companies, bypassing certain standard educational requirements.
The scandal surrounding Collegium Humanum, a Warsaw-based private institution formerly known as the Warsaw Management University, has been unfolding since early 2024. Prosecutors accuse the university's former rector, Paweł Czarnecki, and associates of operating an organized criminal group that issued thousands of bogus postgraduate diplomas—primarily Executive MBAs—in exchange for financial or personal benefits. These "accelerated" programs allegedly required minimal or no actual coursework, allowing recipients to rapidly qualify for lucrative supervisory roles in state enterprises.
The CBA, under the supervision of the National Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, has conducted multiple raids and detentions throughout 2025. To date, over 58 individuals have faced charges, including corruption, forgery, money laundering, and participation in organized crime. Notable figures previously implicated include Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk, former parliamentarians, executives from state energy and banking sectors, and even firefighters promoted via similar schemes. In one thread, prosecutors revealed agreements where public institutions promoted Collegium Humanum programs in exchange for issuing diplomas without attendance.
The government has responded decisively: Degrees from Collegium Humanum are no longer recognized for appointments to state company boards, and officials holding such credentials have been required to retake qualifying exams. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's administration has framed the crackdown as part of broader anti-corruption efforts targeting remnants of the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, under which many implicated individuals—including Rościszewski, a former PKO Bank Polski executive—rose to prominence.
Rościszewski, born in 1965, has a long career in finance and diplomacy. Before his 2022 appointment as ambassador, he served as chairman of PKO Bank Polski (2021) and held executive roles at international firms like AXA and BNP Paribas. His diplomatic posting occurred under the PiS-led government, though the current Civic Platform coalition has retained some ambassadors while recalling others.
The suspension has drawn attention to the intersection of education fraud and public appointments in Poland. Critics argue the 2017 law change created loopholes exploited by networks favoring political allies. Supporters of the probe hail it as evidence of institutional cleanup, while some defend that thousands may have legitimately studied at the university before irregularities surfaced.
As the investigation continues, the Polish Embassy in Paris will be managed interim by deputy head Wiesław Tarka. No formal charges against Rościszewski have been announced as of December 25, and the case underscores ongoing efforts to eradicate systemic corruption in qualifications for high-level state positions.
