Law and Justice (PiS) MP Mariusz Gosek carried out a parliamentary inspection at the Warsaw Metropolitan Police Headquarters in connection with the harassment of TV Republika journalists. The politician sought information regarding officers’ actions during the scandalous intervention at the apartment – which also serves as the office – of TV Republika CEO Tomasz Sakiewicz, however Police Commander Krzysztof Ogroński did not find time to meet with him.
For several days now, there has been a wave of false reports targeting TV Republika journalists. The biggest scandal was sparked by Friday’s police intervention at the apartment that also functions as the office of TV Republika CEO Tomasz Sakiewicz. Officers responding to a report of an alleged threat to a child did not have visible identification, refused to identify themselves, and used handcuffs on the CEO’s assistant.
So far, the services have detained a 53-year-old man who himself fell victim to identity impersonation. Equipment belonging to a streamer has also been secured – a person who has been reporting for three years that he is being impersonated and subjected to false reports.
Law and Justice (PiS) MP Mariusz Gosek appeared today at the Warsaw Metropolitan Police Headquarters building, where he conducted a parliamentary inspection. Before it began, he told a TV Republika reporter what he wanted to find out.
“This concerns information about the duty officer and the course of the police intervention. Did the police officers – having such a legal obligation – report the use of direct coercive measures in the form of handcuffing and restraining hands behind the back? Whether and when, and on whose order, were those handcuffs removed? At what moment did this happen? Why was this woman detained? If she was handcuffed and brought down from the third floor, then – in accordance with Article 189 of the Criminal Code – preventing a person from moving freely, even temporarily and briefly, constitutes detention, restriction, or deprivation of liberty. In my assessment, this is exactly the situation we were dealing with here,” he said.
He recalled that “when responding to an intervention, it is possible to very quickly verify in police systems the address one is going to and who it concerns.”
“Therefore – in my assessment – the officers must have known that the intervention concerned a location linked to the editor-in-chief of TV Republika. I would also like to see the recordings from body cameras. I was informed by an inspector from the Police Headquarters Control Department that officers were using such cameras, so a recording of the intervention exists. After reviewing these materials, we will take further steps. I can already inform you that the Chairman of the PiS Parliamentary Club, former Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, has decided to urgently convene an extraordinary meeting of the Administration and Internal Affairs Committee,“ he stated.
A few minutes later, Mariusz Gosek left the headquarters building and revealed how the inspection had proceeded.
“Many questions remain unanswered. The case is under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, and an internal disciplinary proceeding is also underway in parallel. The prosecutorial proceedings are covered by investigative secrecy. I requested direct access to the body camera recordings and the possibility to examine them. So far, I have only been informed by the head of the Control Department. I did not meet with the commander or his deputies. No one found time to talk. This concerns me, because once again I am requesting a meeting on a serious matter and I am not being given the opportunity to speak,” Gosek said.
He also added that “in practice, he learned nothing.”
“I only left a written request and spoke briefly,” he concluded.