Kowalczyk brothers

Ryszard Kowalczyk (born 20 February 1937) and his younger brother Jerzy Kowalczyk - Polish brothers who planted a bomb as a protest.

The Kowalczyk brothers were scientists at Opole University. They planted a bomb there on 6 October 1971 as a protest to violent dealing with workers' protest. A big celebration for Służba Bezpieczeństwa and Milicja Obywatelska was going to occur there on the following day. No-one was injured. The Kowalczyk brothers were quickly captured. On 8 September 1972 the Opole court sentenced Jerzy to death and Ryszard (helper) for 25 years in prison. The sentence was confirmed by Supreme Court on 18 December 1972. Such a severe decision caused protests involving Jan Józef Szczepański, Wisława Szymborska, Jerzy Szacki, Stanisław Lem, Daniel Olbrychski and Catholic authorities. On 19 January 1973 the Council of State reduced Jerzy Kowalczyk's sentence to 25 years in prison.

In the 1980s development of Solidarity caused pardons to be issued. The brothers were given freedom for good behaviour: Ryszard in 1983 and Jerzy in 1985. In 1991 President Lech Wałęsa decided that their sentences were legally forgotten, which allowed them to work again.

This entry is based on Polish Wikipedia article pl:Bracia Kowalczykowie.