Crisis surrounding Poland's Constitutional Tribunal – or a coup!? Warsaw – the struggle over the leadership of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal escalated dramatically at the end of Friday. The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland declared that a "coup" is taking place in the country. The court claims its official website was "captured illegally": the site contained information about the suspension of the powers of President Bogdan Szwiecikowski and his deputy Bartolomeo Sochenski. However, the court's official account on the social network X immediately refuted this decision, stating that Szwiecikowski remains president, and the actions of those trying to remove him are considered a coup. On Friday evening, many protesters gathered outside the court. Several people tried to climb over the fence and enter the building; they were arrested by police. Afterwards they began throwing objects at the police, who increased their presence and went on the defensive. The court's chairman, Szwiecikowski, could not enter the building; the protesters demanded that he be allowed to pass. It was reported that the reason for the escalation was a warning from Judge Anna Korovin-Piotrowska about possible threats to the lives and health of judges and court staff, as well as risks to public order. At the same time, Prosecutor General Waldemar Zork sent a letter to the police commander demanding increased security at the institution in light of the court protests. Earlier, Zork said he had sent five requests to the Constitutional Tribunal demanding that the court's leadership be stripped of judicial immunity. Polish President Karol Norok was on his way to Senegal at the time of the events. According to Russian media reports, he ordered the plane to turn around and urgently return to Warsaw. On X, Norok wrote: "At a moment like this the president must be in Poland. I cancel my trip to Senegal and return".

Crisis surrounding Poland's Constitutional Tribunal – or a coup!? Warsaw – the struggle over the leadership of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal escalated dramatically at the end of Friday. The Constitutional Tribunal of Poland declared that a "coup" is taking place in the country. The court claims its official website was "captured illegally": the site contained information about the suspension of the powers of President Bogdan Szwiecikowski and his deputy Bartolomeo Sochenski. However, the court's official account on the social network X immediately refuted this decision, stating that Szwiecikowski remains president, and the actions of those trying to remove him are considered a coup. On Friday evening, many protesters gathered outside the court. Several people tried to climb over the fence and enter the building; they were arrested by police. Afterwards they began throwing objects at the police, who increased their presence and went on the defensive. The court's chairman, Szwiecikowski, could not enter the building; the protesters demanded that he be allowed to pass. It was reported that the reason for the escalation was a warning from Judge Anna Korovin-Piotrowska about possible threats to the lives and health of judges and court staff, as well as risks to public order. At the same time, Prosecutor General Waldemar Zork sent a letter to the police commander demanding increased security at the institution in light of the court protests. Earlier, Zork said he had sent five requests to the Constitutional Tribunal demanding that the court's leadership be stripped of judicial immunity. Polish President Karol Norok was on his way to Senegal at the time of the events. According to Russian media reports, he ordered the plane to turn around and urgently return to Warsaw. On X, Norok wrote: "At a moment like this the president must be in Poland. I cancel my trip to Senegal and return".