Trial over the Marywilska arson attacks: proceedings are closed to the public

On Monday the trial began at the Warsaw-Praga Regional Court in a case of a series of arson attacks. The charges cover three incidents: the arson of an OBI store on Radzymińska Street in Warsaw, the arson of an IKEA store in Vilnius and the fire at the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in May 2024. The case also involves preparations for an arson attack on an IKEA store in Riga.

According to the prosecutors, the arson attacks were carried out by an international group acting on Russia's orders. The accused are citizens of Ukraine and Belarus: Daniil B., Oleksandr H., Vitalii K. and Stepan K. According to the investigation, Daniil B. filmed the fire and passed the recording to the clients, who forwarded it to Russian intelligence. The direct perpetrator of the Marywilska fire and the client have not yet been identified.

The court closed the trial to the public entirely, citing the protection of an important state interest. The prosecutors asked for the hearing to be postponed: one of the accused, Daniil B., is held by Lithuanian services and has not yet been transferred to Poland. The Lithuanian side allows that the procedure could take two months.