Recording 4 — 10 October 2020: NN on wanting to leave NCN
Recording from 10 October 2020 — NN, speaking with Dr. Kilarski, describes her decision to leave Poland's National Science Centre. She explains the atmosphere inside NCN after Błocki's ultimatum and the growing pressure from management.
NN describes both the consequences that befell her after exposing the alleged blackmail and NCN's internal procedures against those who refuse to stay silent. The conversation also documents her explicit statement that she intends to leave — which is later confirmed by NCN emails from the turn of 2020/2021.
A. The NCN grant system and irregularities
As Head of NCN's Grants Control Department, NN describes the internal system for evaluating and auditing applications, including specific researcher cases (e.g. the Selmajer case and the Dulak case) which she characterises as evidence of unequal treatment and conflicts of interest at NCN. The conversation was recorded in a private setting; NN was unaware she was being recorded, which lends spontaneity to her account.
B. Inconsistencies in NN's account — between loyalty and criticism
NN's statements are at points internally inconsistent: in one passage she defends Director Błocki (calling him "crystal clear" and "cautious"), while in another she describes conduct directed at her which she treats as reprisals. As noted in Dr. Kilarski's analysis of the full set of recordings, this duality paradoxically reinforces the credibility of her account: NN speaks candidly, oscillating between institutional loyalty and awareness of irregularities.
C. Intention to leave NCN
NN states explicitly that she wants to leave NCN. The fact that this statement was already made in October 2020 — months before her actual departure — undermines later suggestions that the decision was sudden or unrelated to the atmosphere following the 29 May 2020 ultimatum.