Published on 26 January 2026
 
FIRST SECTION
Application no. 43176/21
Grzegorz ŁYSIEŃ against Poland
and 7 other applications
(see list appended)
communicated on 9 January 2026
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The applications concern strip searches the applicants had to undergo while imprisoned. None of the applicants were classified as “dangerous detainees” and they lodged applications, complaints and appeals with various bodies of the prison system and the judiciary but all of them were dismissed (see the appended table for details).
All applicants complain under Article 8 of the Convention that the unjustified strip searches violated their right to respect for their private lives. The applicants in applications nos. 12583/24 and 32038/24 additionally complain, under Article 3 of the Convention, about the strip searches constituting degrading treatment on account of their specific circumstances as referred to in the appended table.
QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES
Question concerning all applications:
 
1.  Do the relevant facts of the applications relating to the strip searches give rise to a violation of the applicants’ right to their private life contrary to Article 8 of the Convention (see, Milka v. Poland, no. 14322/12, §§ 41-50, 15 September 2015; Dejnek v. Poland, no. 9635/13, §§ 70-77, 1 June 2017; and Bojar v. Poland [Committee], no. 11148/18, §§ 8-18, 11 May 2023)?
 
Question concerning applications nos. 12583/24 and 32038/24:
 
2.  Have the applicants been subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment, in breach of Article 3 of the Convention (see, for example, Roth v. Germany, nos. 6780/18 and 30776/18, §§ 70-72, 22 October 2020)? Reference is made to the applicants’ allegations concerning the specific circumstances of the strip searches.
 
APPENDIX
No.
Application no.
Case name
Introduction date
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Place of residence
Representative’s name
Location
Place of detention
Alleged number of strip searches
Period in question
Circumstances of strip searches as submitted by the applicant
Domestic remedies used
1.
43176/21
Łysień v. Poland
19/07/2021
Grzegorz ŁYSIEŃ
1992
Szczecin
 
Szczecin Remand Centre
24
22/04/2017 - 27/12/2017
After visits of family members; after returning to prison from temporary escorted absences
Complaint of 12/10/2021 dismissed by the Director of the Szczecin Remand Centre on 05/11/2021
2.
25689/22
Wróblewski v. Poland
11/05/2022
Adrian WRÓBLEWSKI
1976
Bydgoszcz
 
Włocławek Prison
Potulice Prison
5
26/08/2021 - 07/02/2022
Periodic general controls of the applicant’s block; control of the applicant’s cell due to suspicion of possession of unauthorised items
Complaints lodged with the penitentiary sections of the Włocławek Regional Court (dismissed on 31/12/2021 and 27/01/2022) and the Bydgoszcz Regional Court (dismissed on 31/03/2022)
3.
1552/24
Kiecka v. Poland
28/12/2023
Dawid KIECKA
1989
Łazy
 
Strzelce Opolskie Prison No. 1
2
17/09/2023 - 12/11/2023
After visits received by the applicant
Complaints lodged with the penitentiary section of the Opole Regional Court dismissed on 03/10/2023 and 24/11/2023
4.
10159/24
Wrzecion v. Poland
13/03/2024
Piotr WRZECION
1971
Strzelce Opolskie
 
Strzelce Opolskie Prison No. 1
2
15/12/2023 - 17/12/2023
After visits of family members
Complaint lodged with the penitentiary section of the Opole Regional Court dismissed on 03/01/2024
5.
12583/24
Mielewczyk v. Poland
11/04/2024
Paweł MIELEWCZYK
1982
Strzelce Opolskie
 
Piotr PRZESDZING
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie Prison No. 1
1
28/08/2023
After a visit of the applicant’s lawyer; in conditions allowing other persons to see the applicant naked
Complaint lodged with the penitentiary section of the Opole Regional Court transferred to the Regional Inspectorate of Prison Service, dismissed on 12/10/2023; appeal dismissed by the Opole Regional Court on 21/12/2023
6.
32038/24
Nowak v. Poland
25/10/2024
Krzysztof Florian NOWAK
1990
Łowicz
 
 
Sieradz Prison
60
06/2021
-
08/2021
Following the applicant’s inclusion in the list of detainees involved in the trafficking of narcotic substances, the applicant was routinely strip searched and subjected to urine tests, which he was required to provide into a container in the presence of prison officers, upon their request
Civil claim for protection of personal rights dismissed by a final judgment of the Sieradz Regional Court on 13/06/2024 (served on the applicant on 26/06/2024)
7.
32408/24
Głębocki v. Poland
17/10/2024
Jakub GŁĘBOCKI
1984
Stargard
Grzegorz ŁYSIEŃ
Szczecin
Stargard Prison
2
01/09/2023
-
02/09/2023
After visits received by the applicant
Complaint lodged with the penitentiary section of the Szczecin Regional Court dismissed on 10/10/2024
8.
33635/24
Polaczek v. Poland
04/11/2024
Tomasz POLACZEK
1980
Herby
 
 
Gliwice Remand Centre
29
17/07/2024 - 11/09/2025
After visits of the applicant’s lawyer and family members
Complaints lodged with the penitentiary section of the Gliwice Regional Court dismissed on 20/09/2024, 07/01/2025, 04/03/2025 and 16/10/2025