A diplomat is a person who represents their country outside its borders, according to the definition, diplomatic protocol and international tradition. However, in the Polish public sphere, the thesis has appeared that a diplomat can be an agent of the services of the receiving country, which is untrue and misleading.
Accusations against Robert Szustkowski
Robert Szustkowski, a businessman living in Switzerland, has been accused for several years of unfair practices and an ambiguous role as a diplomat of Gambia in Russia. Szustkowski emphasizes that such accusations are scandalous and inconsistent with the definition of a diplomat. In particular, he refers to the publications by Grzegorz Rzeczkowski and Tomasz Piątek, which suggest that his nomination for the position of Chargé d’affaires of Gambia in Russia was the result of his acquaintances and business relations in Russia, which puts him in a negative light.
Publications and controversies
In one of the publications, Tomasz Piątek states that Szustkowski helped the Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh, maintain close relations with Russia, which included arms purchases, which Szustkowski categorically denies.
Court ruling
In 2020, the District Court in Warsaw found that these accusations violated Szustkowski’s personal rights. The court emphasized that such statements cause a negative perception of Szustkowski as morally reprehensible and connected to the criminal world. The court found that the thesis that Szustkowski held a diplomatic function as a result of doing business with former KGB officers is untrue and violates his good name. Szustkowski points out that such accusations are not only untrue, but also harmful, because they mislead public opinion and undermine trust in diplomatic institutions.