The director of the culture department has been dismissed. The case is related to a Supreme Audit Office audit.

Cezary Cichy knows why he was fired; it was explained to him in detail in writing, said Łukasz Kolasa, spokesman for Szczecin Mayor Piotr Krzystek. Late last week, an appeal from cultural figures defending the former director of the City Hall's Department of Culture was issued. Representatives of institutions under the mayor's authority also signed the appeal.

Łukasz Kolasa wrote: "In response to journalists' questions regarding his dismissal from the position of director of the Department of Culture, I would like to inform you that the reasons underlying this decision were explained in detail to Mr. Cezary Cichy in writing. The City Hall does not usually address such matters publicly, as these are internal relations solely between the office and the employee. In our opinion, no circumstances occurred that would justify the office infringing this rule and publicly reporting on employee matters."

He adds: "What I can confirm is that the entire matter is related to the audit conducted by the Supreme Audit Office of cultural institutions, which you reported extensively on at the beginning of the year. In light of all the circumstances and findings made by the Mayor of Szczecin and the bodies involved in the entire matter, including the prosecutor's office, Piotr Krzystek has lost confidence in the director of the Culture Department, which is a necessary condition for holding the position of senior official at Szczecin City Hall."

Last week, an appeal to President Piotr Krzystek appeared, signed by almost 80 people from culture and science who defend Cezary Cichy and highly value his competences.

The appeal, alongside people such as Adam "Łona" Zieliński and Professor Eryk Krasucki from the University of Szczecin, was signed by, among others, the directors of the Contemporary Theatre, Adam Opatowicz and Mirosław Gawęda, representatives of Trafostacja Sztuki – assistant director Marta Walaszek, and curator Andrzej Witczak.

Cezary Cichy, a long-time employee of the Department of Culture, became director of this unit relatively recently, in September 2024. Dorota Serwa previously held this position, also not for long. The former head of the Szczecin Philharmonic has been director of the Department of Culture since July 2023. ©℗

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