The Polish Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, has taken action “to clarify the causes and legal grounds of police interventions in the homes of TV Republika journalists”. He has asked the Chief of Police, Marek Boroń, to provide explanations regarding “the factual and legal basis of these interventions”.
A campaign targeting TV Republika journalists
For several days, a campaign of harassment against TV Republika journalists has been ongoing, involving false reports of suicides. The biggest scandal erupted on Friday, when police entered the home of TV Republika CEO, Tomasz Sakiewicz. Officers were reportedly responding to a claim of a threat to a child’s life, but they failed to identify themselves and handcuffed the CEO’s assistant.
So far, the services have detained a 53-year-old man who ultimately turned out to be a victim of identity impersonation. Equipment belonging to a streamer has also been confiscated – he has been reporting for three years that he is a victim of impersonation and false reports.
Ombudsman’s intervention
In response to this scandalous and coordinated campaign, Ombudsman Marcin Wiącek has launched an intervention.
“The Ombudsman has taken action to clarify the causes and legal grounds of police interventions in the homes of TV Republika journalists. In particular, on 15 May 2026, such an intervention took place in the home of the Editor-in-Chief of TV Republika, Tomasz Sakiewicz. The basis for the actions was reportedly a notification of a possible threat to the life or health of a person at the indicated address. During the intervention, officers were also said to have searched the premises and used direct coercive measures in the form of handcuffs”, it was stated on the Ombudsman’s website.
It was also reported that the Ombudsman requested from the Chief of Police “explanations regarding the factual and legal grounds of these interventions”.
“The Ombudsman also requests the results of an assessment of the legality, justification, and proportionality of the officers’ actions, including the use of direct coercive measures. Furthermore, he asks for information on actions taken to identify those responsible for the false reports, as well as access to body camera recordings from the officers conducting the intervention at Tomasz Sakiewicz’s residence”, the statement added.