Embassy Events 2007

Death of Zdzisław Rurarz

30 January 2007

State Department

On January 21 former Polish Ambassador Zdzisław Rurarz passed away at his home in Reston, Virginia at the age of 76. "Ambassador Rurarz was a man of principle who made a difficult decision to stand up for his beliefs at a very difficult time for Poland, and he will be remembered for his courage,” said Ambassador Ashe. Zdzisław Rurarz was the Polish ambassador to Japan when he defected to the U.S. in 1981 in protest of the imposition of martial law by Poland’s communist government. In the United States, Rurarz spoke out against the communist regime, addressing a U.S. Congressional panel and giving a series of lectures. Rurarz had his property confiscated and was tried in absentia on charges of high treason, convicted and sentenced to death by a Polish court – a sentence that was never subsequently nullified and did not allow him to return to Poland. Ambassador Ashe noted that "our condolences go out to the Rurarz family at this time."