Piotr Paweł Szczęsny (6 July 1963, Kraków – 29 October 2017, Warsaw) was a Polish chemist and a Mensa member who committed suicide by immolation in protest against the policies of the ruling Law and Justice government.

On 19 October 2017, he entered the Parade Square in front of the Palace of Culture and Science, played the song Kocham wolność [pl],[1] distributed copies of a self-produced leaflet, poured flammable liquid over himself and set himself on fire.

[5] Piotr Szczęsny was buried on 14 November 2017 at the Kraków Salwator Cemetery in the presence of thousands of mourners from all over Poland.

[7] He was not involved in any political action of the Polish opposition and had suffered from depression for the last eight years of his life.

[8][9] Szczęsny's suicide received considerable publicity and a march held to honour him was attended by several hundred people.