The death of dissident student Stanislaw Pyjas in 1977, presumed to have been murdered by communist agents, may indeed have been an unfortunate, yet self-inflicted accident.

Such is the reckoning of scientists charged with analysing the case by the state Institute of National Remembrance.

The remains of Stanislaw Pyjas were exhumed in April 2010, in a bid to clarify long-running claims that the student was murdered.

Pyas, an anti-communist activist, was discovered dead at the bottom of a Cracovian stairwell on 7 May 1977.

The prosecutor who led the initial inquiry surmised that the death was an accident, probably induced by the victim being “in a heavy state of drunkenness.”

However, foul play was suspected from the outset, with accusations that Pyjas had been bludgeoned to death by the Security Services. This prompted a “black march” of solidarity, and the formation of the Student Solidarity Committee.

Nevertheless, the team of scientists that analysed the remains of the deceased last year has not confirmed the conspiracy theory. According to their report, Pyjas may well have slipped through the barrier at the bottom of the stairwell, and died from the injuries he sustained.

The submission of the report prompted IPN to ask the scientists another series of questions in addition to those that had initially been planned.

Pyjas was laid to rest for the second time June 2010. (nh/pg)

related story

Report on communist-era ‘accidental student death’ complete, thenews.pl, 2 Feb