Polish Farmer Released After Destroying Asphalt Road with Tractor Amid Land Dispute

A 60-year-old farmer, Józef M., has been released from custody in Gliwice, Poland, after admitting to destroying newly paved asphalt on Rybacka Street with his tractor on August 7. The incident occurred in protest against what he claims is the unlawful seizure of his land by the municipality.

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Of course, I did it.

Józef M. stated, "Of course, I did it." He asserts that the land is his property and that a notification filed with the prosecutor's office in 2024 regarding the violation of his property rights yielded no results. The farmer claims the municipality acted illegally in taking over his land. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years, and the estimated cost to repair the damaged road is 180,000 Polish złoty. However, Józef M. remains defiant, stating he will not pay a single złoty for the repairs.

The farmer's version of events conflicts with the city's stance. Gliwice authorities maintain that the land belongs to the municipality and that ownership was regularized years ago, reportedly at the farmer's own request to allow for road expansion. Józef M. vehemently denies this, claiming he only accepted compensation for plots near the sports field on Rybackiej, not for the specific plot where the asphalt was laid. He insists he never sold the disputed land or received payment for it.

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This is my property.

Józef M. further alleges that the municipality "expropriated him unlawfully" and offered "ridiculous money" for the land, valuing it at 13 złoty per square meter when it was worth 600 złoty at the time. He claims to have even taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights, which he says ruled in his favor, although his lawyer, Adam Szewc, noted that while land registry records are not disputed, the method of acquisition raises questions.

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The municipality is lying, they expropriated me unlawfully.

After spending a week in custody, Józef M. was placed under police supervision on August 14. Upon his release, his first priority was to retrieve his dog, which had been taken to a shelter during his absence. When asked what he wanted to convey to those following his story, he simply stated, "That in Poland, the law should finally prevail. Nothing more."

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They offered ridiculous money, a square meter was worth 600 złoty then, and they gave me 13 zł.