The District Court for Warsaw-Wola has ruled that Adam Borowski, an anti-communist opposition activist and head of the Warsaw branch of the “Gazeta Polska” Club, may serve a prison sentence. “Adam, we are with you and we will not leave you! Regardless of views – this is a matter that should concern everyone who believes in freedom of speech,” wrote Przemysław Czarnek, the prime ministerial candidate of Law and Justice (PiS), on platform X.
Adam Borowski, head of the Warsaw “Gazeta Polska” Club and a legendary anti-communist opposition activist, has been sentenced to six months of unconditional imprisonment for criticizing Roman Giertych. The statement was made on TV Republika. Borowski is a stroke survivor and suffers from cancer.
Today, Judge Katarzyna Bień at the District Court for Warsaw-Wola ruled that Adam Borowski may serve his prison sentence.
“The court stated that I had the opportunity to apologize, and I did not take it,” Borowski said after leaving the courtroom. The prosecutor in the case had requested a suspended sentence. “The court remained inflexible,” Borowski added.
The court did not accept the defense’s motions.
More in the article: Adam Borowski to be imprisoned. “The prosecutor wanted suspension, the court remained inflexible”
Czarnek: “Adam, We Are With You!”
Journalists from the House of Free Speech, as well as members of the “Gazeta Polska” Clubs, were present in court alongside Borowski. Words of support are also pouring in on social media.
“Adam, we are with you and we will not leave you! Regardless of views – this is a matter that should concern everyone who believes in freedom of speech. Because if today one can go to prison for words, tomorrow it may affect each of us. We stand where we stood then. They stand where ZOMO stood,” wrote Prof. Przemysław Czarnek.
The case was also commented on by Mariusz Błaszczak of Law and Justice (PiS). “Adam Borowski – a man who, during communist times, was imprisoned for a free Poland – is now to be put behind bars again. He has been sentenced to six months in prison for words spoken in public debate,” he wrote.
“Solidarity with Adam Borowski is not a matter of politics. It is a matter of principles,” the MP emphasized.
Sebastian Kaleta, former Deputy Minister of Justice, commented ironically: “So the Polnord scandal has been explained. The enforcers of the rule of law have settled this affair.”
“To prison will go… Adam Borowski. He will go there for six months for a comment about Giertych in the context of this scandal. He said that Giertych ‘cooperates with criminals and not only provided a legal shield, but also offered his acquaintances to act as ‘front men’ (quote via Onet). This is all the more grotesque as the Tusk-era prosecutor’s office discontinued the case against Giertych, claiming – as revealed by Wirtualna Polska – that Giertych was simply providing legal services to his driver in this matter,” the politician wrote.
He added: “Do not dare write about Giertych and Polnord, because the enforcers of the rule of law will put you in prison! Poland is becoming a failed state before our eyes. A crypto-dictatorship, except that the ‘crypto’ is fading…”
Mateusz Morawiecki, former Prime Minister of Poland, also commented on the case.
“A legend of the anti-communist opposition, Adam Borowski, is to be sent to prison for defending freedom of speech. A mockery. A farce. A scandal! In Tusk and Żurek’s state, the word ‘justice’ no longer exists. They have destroyed the judiciary and continue down the path of dismantling the rule of law. But their days are numbered. Everything will be settled. Let us fight for it every day!” he wrote.