“An election campaign is approaching, so this may be preparation to show various people who are involved in political life and are very critical of this government and determined – and in the case of Adam Borowski, also effective – that there is a price to pay for engagement. You can get involved, but it comes at a high cost in Tusk’s state,” this is how Katarzyna Gójska, deputy editor-in-chief of “Gazeta Polska”, commented on Adam Borowski’s case on TV Republika.
In the past week, the District Court for Warsaw-Wola, with Judge Katarzyna Bień presiding, ruled that Adam Borowski – a legend of the anti-communist opposition and head of the Warsaw “Gazeta Polska” Club – is to serve six months in prison in connection with a statement about a member of Civic Platform (KO), Roman Giertych.
The case, in which attorney Roman Giertych is acting as a private prosecutor, was brought before the District Court for Warsaw-Śródmieście, 2nd Criminal Division. The Civic Platform (KO) MP, offended by remarks made over a year ago, pursued criminal proceedings. He accused Borowski under Article 212 §2 of the Penal Code and also demanded payment of 200,000 złoty. The private indictment concerned a specific quote. These words – referring to the Polnord scandal – were spoken during a TV Republika program. Borowski refused to apologize, stating that “one does not apologize for telling the truth”.
“The court stated that I had the opportunity to apologize and did not take it,” Borowski said on Tuesday after leaving the courtroom. The prosecutor in the case had requested a suspended sentence. “The court remained adamant,” Borowski added. The defense of the head of the Warsaw “Gazeta Polska” Club will appeal the decision to the Regional Court in Warsaw.
At the same time, a procedure is underway concerning a presidential pardon for Borowski. This week, officials from the Chancellery of the President announced that Karol Nawrocki had requested the case files.
Today, the issue was discussed on the program “Rewolwer” broadcast on TV Republika.
“I have no doubt that Adam Borowski has been selected. What Adam Borowski said more than five years ago consists of three very measured sentences – there is nothing there that would insult Roman Giertych. I understand it may be inconvenient, but in light of what has recently come out, even in an article by Wirtualna Polska, what Adam Borowski said is trivial. For some reason, this case has suddenly gained momentum, and Roman Giertych is so engaged in ensuring that Adam Borowski is punished and sent to prison. That is why his lawyer somehow appeared at Tuesday’s hearing, although he should not have. That is why Giertych keeps demanding imprisonment. He truly wants – I think not only him, but Donald Tusk – for a person who is a symbol of resistance to militant democracy to actually go to prison,” said Katarzyna Gójska.
“There is still a belief in the minds of these people that this ‘breaks resistance’. That if such a person is imprisoned, then first of all – he will be gone for six months, meaning he will not stir things up, but secondly – it will also break others, that the group created by Adam Borowski will become more disintegrated and will not act as effectively. An election campaign is approaching, so this may be preparation to show various people who are involved in political life and are very critical of this government and determined – and in the case of Adam Borowski, also effective – that there is a price to pay for engagement. You can get involved, but it comes at a high cost in Tusk’s state,” she added.
Katarzyna Gójska also assessed that if “public resistance is strong enough”, Adam Borowski will not be imprisoned. “This government will simply become afraid,” she concluded.