Prosecutors close investigation into activist Jolanta Brzeska’s death

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk made the decision on October 28, after a lengthy investigation spanning over a decade. Brzeska, a well-known figure in tenant rights advocacy, died in 2011 after reportedly being doused in a flammable liquid and set on fire. An autopsy determined she succumbed to thermal shock, extensive burns, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

According to officials, the investigation was terminated due to a "lack of sufficient data to justify suspicion of a criminal offense." This marks the second time authorities have closed the case; an initial investigation ended in 2013, citing a failure to identify any suspects.

The case has been under the jurisdiction of multiple prosecutors since its opening on March 3, 2011, initially handled by Warsaw’s District Prosecutor and later transferred to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk in 2016.

Throughout the investigation, nearly 300 witnesses were questioned, with some providing statements multiple times or under the supervision of a psychological expert. Authorities say they conducted confrontations between witnesses when statements conflicted and ordered polygraph tests in cases where witness credibility was in doubt.

Investigators also analyzed phone records, surveillance footage, and conducted site inspections and procedural experiments to reconstruct events. Over 50 expert opinions from specialists across various fields were compiled, some of them re-evaluated as new forensic methods emerged.

The prosecutor’s office noted the use of "innovative technical procedures" to improve the quality of surveillance footage, but the efforts ultimately did not yield conclusive results.

Following the discovery of Brzeska’s charred remains in Warsaw’s Powsin Culture Park, investigators considered multiple theories, including homicide, suicide, and accidental death. However, after years of analysis, the prosecutor’s office concluded that no scenario could be definitively confirmed or dismissed.

"None of the investigative versions can be confirmed or ruled out with absolute certainty," stated the prosecutor’s office. "All are plausible based on probability, and a comprehensive body of evidence has been collected, which allows for a final decision," officials explained, adding that they would consider reopening the case if new evidence emerges.

The investigation references a witness who claimed to have seen an altercation between a man and a woman around the time of Brzeska’s death. According to the witness, the woman appeared to make "dance-like gestures" before the unidentified man walked away, and the woman remained nearby. Shortly afterward, the witness saw a fire in the location where they had been standing.

Investigators ruled out Brzeska’s activism in housing rights as a motive, determining that her tenant advocacy did not connect her to individuals involved in controversial property restitution activities. Instead, they considered other motives, such as a robbery attempt.

Jolanta Brzeska was a vocal advocate for tenant rights in Warsaw, where she lived at 9 Nabielaka Street. In 2006, her building was transferred to new private owners, leading to multiple rent hikes that pushed residents, including Brzeska, into heavy debt. Tenants in her building reported harassment and threats of eviction, prompting Brzeska to co-found the Warsaw Tenants Association to defend residents against similar pressures.

On March 1, 2011, Jolanta Brzeska left home and never returned. Shortly after, a charred female body, linked to the activist’s disappearance, was found in Powsin Culture Park. An autopsy confirmed her identity.

While initial investigation in 2013 pointed to third-party involvement, officials could not rule out the possibility of suicide, despite considering it unlikely.