A Polish court has ordered a six-month prison sentence for Adam Borowski, the head of the Warsaw chapter of “Gazeta Polska,” after he was found to have not fulfilled a court-ordered apology. The ruling, issued Tuesday, stems from a 2020 televised statement Borowski made about Roman Giertych, a lawyer and member of the Civic Coalition (KO) party. The case underscores the ongoing legal battles involving Borowski and highlights the complexities of defamation laws in Poland.
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According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Bogucki, President Karol Nawrocki has requested the Prosecutor General to provide the case files of Adam Borowski. “The President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, acting under Article 139 of the Constitution, decided to request the Prosecutor General, under Article 567 paragraph 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to submit the case file of Mr. Adam Borowski without undue delay, within a period not exceeding 30 days,” Bogucki wrote.
Court Decides in Borowski Case
The President’s move relates to the constitutional right of presidential clemency. Article 567, paragraph 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure concerns initiating pardon proceedings ex officio. “The Prosecutor General shall submit the case file to the President of the Republic of Poland or initiate ex officio pardon proceedings in any case where the President so decides,” the provision states.
Bogucki’s post also included an image of the President’s decision, dated March 24, bearing Karol Nawrocki’s signature.
The legal dispute began in 2020 when Borowski, discussing the Polnord case, stated that Giertych was an attorney who “collaborates with criminals and not only provided legal protection but also provided his acquaintances to be ‘fronts.’” Giertych subsequently filed a private criminal complaint against Borowski.
Radio Wnet reported Tuesday that a hearing was held regarding the enforcement of the sentence against Borowski. “The court ruled that Borowski did not fulfill the obligation to apologize, therefore it decided to order the execution of the six-month prison sentence. The decision is not yet final – the defense announces an appeal,” the radio station reported. Borowski himself told Radio Wnet: “I will not apologize. I can go to jail.”
In January, President Nawrocki was asked on TV Republika about the possibility of pardoning Borowski. “Of course, I am familiar with the case, and I also know Adam Borowski, an activist of the anti-communist opposition, a very brave man who has always stood on the side of Poland. This information is worrying. I have not yet made any decisions regarding pardons. They are already ready on my desk, but due to many obligations, I have not yet had time to consider them. I have requested a full analysis of the case of Mr. Adam Borowski,” the President said.
