Magdalena Biejat publicly suggested that TV Republika should be investigated by the National Broadcasting Council and the prosecutor’s office in connection with Zbigniew Ziobro’s trip to the United States. The Deputy Marshal of the Sejm even spoke about possible consequences for the station and its staff, accusing TV Republika of alleged “aiding” in the escape of the former Minister of Justice.
On Sunday evening, on TV Republika, Zbigniew Ziobro confirmed the station’s findings and admitted that he had traveled to the United States. In his first interview from overseas on the channel, he said: “I am in the United States, I arrived yesterday. This is my third time traveling across the U.S. – it is an incredibly complex, beautiful country, the strongest democracy in the world.” Ziobro is being sought by prosecutors under Waldemar Żurek in connection with actions related to the Justice Fund.
However – interestingly – today during a press conference, the spokesperson for the National Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutor Przemysław Nowak, stated that “prosecutors were right from the beginning in claiming that temporary detention and the immediate initiation of international search measures were necessary.”
“The most important issue – Zbigniew Ziobro is not an internationally wanted person. He could travel freely across EU countries, where a Polish passport is not required – that is the key fact. One must ask why Zbigniew Ziobro has not been internationally wanted to this day, despite the prosecutor’s office having done everything for months to initiate such international search measures,” Nowak said.
At the same time, he stated that “verification activities have been initiated ex officio to determine whether there is suspicion that other individuals committed the crime of assisting a suspect in evading criminal responsibility, including escape. We only have media reports in this regard, however they are sufficient to undertake certain verifications and findings,” he said.
Biejat: The case should be analyzed by KRRiT and the prosecutor’s office
The alleged involvement of TV Republika in Zbigniew Ziobro’s trip to the United States was also discussed today in a program by Wirtualna Polska, whose guest was Magdalena Biejat (New Left (NL)).
The Deputy Marshal of the Sejm stated: “The fact of TV Republika’s involvement in this entire story is a scandal in itself. That is, a television station, journalists, who are now suspected of helping a wanted criminal escape – this is already a new standard.”
Asked whether she could imagine consequences being drawn against the station of the Free Speech House foundation, for example in the context of its broadcasting license or – “criminal consequences for Tomasz Sakiewicz and his people,” she replied:
“I believe this matter should be analyzed both by the National Broadcasting Council and the prosecutor’s office. These are serious allegations and serious concerns. Zbigniew Ziobro also confirmed that he is a correspondent of TV Republika, which would indicate that he indeed obtained this visa as a journalist of that station,” Biejat said.
Statement by the President of TV Republika
Yesterday, during the evening interview with Zbigniew Ziobro, the host of TV Republika, journalist Edyta Lewandowska, read a statement by the Management Board of TV Republika, signed by its president Tomasz Sakiewicz.
“TV Republika, since its inception, has stood guard over fundamental freedoms and civil rights, including the right to an independent court. After December 13, 2023, those governing Poland have repeatedly violated these principles, as exemplified by the unlawful deprivation of liberty of opposition MPs protected by immunity. Actions against one of them were recognized by international organizations as a violation of the parliamentary immunity of the Council of Europe. An independent court, in turn, described actions against opposition politicians as characteristic of a crypto-dictatorship. In a democratic state, every citizen remains innocent until a final verdict. We do not prejudge the guilt or innocence of Zbigniew Ziobro and other opponents of Donald Tusk’s government; however, we observe serious irregularities and political pressure that may affect the justice system. Therefore, TV Republika will continue to defend fundamental civil rights and freedoms, provide support to individuals whose rights are threatened, and inform in Poland and abroad about the need to restore respect for the rule of law and democratic standards both in Poland and in other European Union countries.”
Shortly afterward, journalist Lewandowska informed viewers that former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro would become a commentator for the station. Asked how he envisioned cooperation with TV Republika and his continued political service to the country in this new role, he replied:
“It is an honor for me. I am very pleased that I will be able – in the largest conservative television station in Europe – to participate in debates and also present a subjective point of view as a commentator and participant in the debate and dispute that you conduct, always inviting representatives of many different sides. I believe that such a perspective, also from the American viewpoint, with the involvement and participation of the large Polish-American community, will have its value and significance for the station and will constitute, one might say, a reinforcement of the diversity of views and opinions that appear daily on TV Republika.”