Arrested in 1969 for his involvement in smuggling books published in Paris by Jerzy Giedroyc's Kultura through the Tatra Mountains, he was sentenced to imprisonment in the so-called Tatra Climbers' Trial. Released from the prison after the advent of Edward Gierek's rule, Kelus was involved in the Workers' Defence Committee (KOR) where he organized legal and financial aid to workers and labor activists persecuted by the communist authorities.
Arrested in 1969 for smuggling books published in Paris by Jerzy Giedroyc's Kultura through the Tatra Mountains, Kelus was sentenced to prison in the Tatra Climbers' Trial. He was released from prison after Edward Gierek came into power and joined the Workers' Defence Committee (KOR), where he provided legal and financial aid to workers and labor activists persecuted by the communist government.