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Presidential Debate in Końskie – TVP in liquidation and Trzaskowski’s campaign team in trouble. “A violation of the law has occurred”

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Rafał Trzaskowski
x.com/trzaskowski // screenshot

“We are witnessing a total appropriation of TVP (currently undergoing liquidation), and this by the campaign team of Rafał Trzaskowski,” assessed Przemysław Czarnek during a broadcast on TV Republika, raising further questions regarding the organization of the debate in Końskie.

On Friday, a public presidential debate took place at the town square in Końskie, organized by TV Republika in cooperation with TV Trwam and wPolsce24. Five presidential candidates participated in the event. Subsequently, the participants moved to an indoor venue where another debate was held—this one organized by Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign team in collaboration with three national broadcasters: TVP (in the process of liquidation), TVN, and Polsat.

None of these stations officially confirmed their involvement in organizing the debate, which has sparked a wave of questions that remain unanswered. These issues were addressed in the evening political program “W punkt” on TV Republika by Przemysław Czarnek, a Member of Parliament representing the Law and Justice (PiS) party.

“The matter is straightforward. If the organizer was the public broadcaster and, for that reason, it refused to allow the presence of TV Republika, it means that the debate was organized unlawfully. This is because it did not permit participation by all candidates, which is a legal obligation for public media,”

Czarnek argued. 

“If, however, the organizer was Rafał Trzaskowski, and TVP in liquidation objected while simultaneously covering the costs of the debate, then this constitutes illegal financing of Rafał Trzaskowski’s electoral campaign,”

continued the former Minister of Education and Science.

He emphasized that “in either case, a violation of the law occurred.” 

“It is possible that the law was broken in two ways simultaneously, as both of these unlawful actions—each contrary to electoral law—may have occurred concurrently,”

he added.

“The explanations we are now hearing are simply an attempt to turn the issue on its head, but this is not something that can be reversed,”

he asserted.

Further, he noted:

“Such things have never happened before. Even Szymon Hołownia remarked in one of his statements that when he ran five years ago, the then TVP—what he described as ‘being in the hands of the Law and Justice party’—did not engage in such antics and did not exclude any candidate or campaign team from participating in such debates.”

“We are dealing with the total appropriation of TVP in liquidation, and this by Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign team,”

he accused his political opponents.

Lukashenko to Bring in 150,000 Pakistanis. Will They Storm Poland? “A Serious Signal for the Security Services”

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President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Minsk, Belarus
By Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148700987

Polish intelligence and counterintelligence agencies must assess to what extent the Belarusian side’s declarations can be realized. This is particularly urgent given that, between 2021 and 2023, Belarus cynically and overtly exploited student and work visas to fuel a migration route—an element of a hybrid operation against Poland, said Stanisław Żaryn, advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland and President of the National Security Institute Foundation, in an interview with Niezalezna .pl, commenting on Aleksandr Lukashenko’s announcement about bringing up to 150,000 Pakistani nationals to Belarus.

This declaration emerged from bilateral talks held a few days ago in Minsk. The capital of Belarus hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Following their meeting, Lukashenko announced that he had agreed with the Pakistani side to establish an “air bridge,” through which up to 150,000 citizens of Pakistan would be transported to Belarus.

“We agreed to do everything so that our Pakistani friends—workers, farmers, and intellectuals—could come to Belarus and begin working here. We need them very much and will create favourable conditions for them on-site,” 

Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the regime-affiliated news agency BelTA.
https://twitter.com/beltanews/status/1911018694068568120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1911018694068568120%7Ctwgr%5Ec20c78dcce757781bde3cb2cb89d8c331838018c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpanel.niezalezna.tech%2Fpreview%2F541575-podglad

Arriving in Belarus This Summer?

A special Islamabad-Minsk flight route is to be launched for this purpose. The timeline was discussed yesterday on the STV channel by Belarusian Minister of Transport and Communications, Aleksei Lakhnavich.

“In November, we signed an international road transport agreement, which will, among other things, allow us to use new logistics routes. However, the agreement has not yet come into force. We are working on its ratification. We plan for that to happen by June,”

 the Belarusian official stated.

The Reports Should Be Taken Seriously

It is worth noting that this information has gone largely unnoticed in the Polish media, although it may have serious implications for the situation at the Polish border. The possibility cannot be excluded that the arrival of tens of thousands of Pakistanis is not primarily a matter of labour market needs, but rather yet another instalment in the long-standing hybrid warfare orchestrated by Russia and executed by the Belarusian regime—targeting Poland and the Baltic states.

This is especially concerning given that, for several weeks now, Polish security services have been experiencing increased migratory pressure along the country’s eastern border. According to the latest reports from the Border Guard, over the last weekend alone, more than 115 attempts were recorded of individuals trying to illegally cross into Poland from Belarusian territory.

Furthermore, earlier this year, Lukashenko openly admitted that Belarus serves as a major transit route westward and threatened a new wave of migration “to those who impose economic sanctions on them.”

“Everyone accuses us of facilitating this migration. I’ve always been honest. We will not protect anyone from migrants. Especially those who impose economic sanctions on us. Why should we protect them?”

 he stated.

“These are developments we must take very seriously. Polish intelligence and counterintelligence must assess the feasibility of the Belarusian side’s declarations. Especially since from 2021 to 2023, Belarus blatantly used various types of visas—student and work alike—to drive the migration stream, which was part of a hybrid operation targeting Poland,” 

Żaryn reiterates in response to developments in Belarus.

“At our eastern border, we have often identified individuals who were granted various types of Belarusian visas—tourist or student. Therefore, this signal of intensified cooperation with Pakistan is cause for concern,” adds the expert in conversation with Niezalezna.pl. He warns that “the coming weeks and months could be very active along the Belarusian border.”

“The Russian and Belarusian regimes will exploit this route to destabilize and polarize Poland. Agreements like this one, forged by Minsk, may herald increased pressure at the border,”

 he adds.

All possible scenarios must be considered. One thing is certain—Russia remains hostile to the West and regards Poland as its adversary. The Kremlin aspires to establish its own sphere of influence in Central and Eastern Europe, which entails continuous actions against Poland and NATO as a whole. What unfolds in the coming months will depend heavily on the United States’ approach to Russia and the geopolitical arrangements tied to the war in Ukraine. It will also hinge on whether Russia can afford to redeploy forces currently concentrated in Ukraine to other areas.

“The trend of declining security in Europe is a long-term phenomenon, and we must respond accordingly. This includes further strengthening the presence of U.S. forces in our country, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank, and activating Europe to prevent being manipulated and to effectively counteract Russian interests. We must also remain active in Washington—though it seems that the government of Donald Tusk has abandoned this direction,”

 Żaryn concludes.

TV Republika Journalist Attacked for Attempting to Ask a Question. The Case Referred to the Prosecutor’s Office

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Journalist Assaulted by Trzaskowski’s Security Undergoes Forensic Examination – Results Are Shocking
TV Republika - screenshot

On Tuesday, the Press Freedom Monitoring Center of the Association of Polish Journalists (SDP) submitted a formal notice to the prosecutor’s office regarding a potential criminal offence involving the assault of journalist Janusz Życzkowski.

Last Thursday, Rafał Trzaskowski visited the town of Wieluń, where—following a meeting with supporters—he was approached by Janusz Życzkowski, a reporter from TV Republika, who attempted to pose an inconvenient question. Życzkowski did not receive a response; instead, the politician’s security personnel attacked him.

“I was struck in the torso and pushed. My equipment fell to the ground and was destroyed. I also lost my glasses,” Życzkowski reported. The campaign team and Trzaskowski himself, rather than intervening, accused Życzkowski of spitting and aggression.

The next day, Życzkowski began to feel unwell and was admitted to the hospital. A subsequent forensic examination confirmed a health impairment lasting more than seven days, which under Polish law constitutes a criminal offence requiring prosecution ex officio.

“Cervical spine torsion accompanied by a post-traumatic pain syndrome affecting the cervical and thoracic regions. The above injuries resulted from the described events (…). They are the consequence of impact with a blunt and blunt-edged instrument. These injuries (…) caused a disruption to the state of health,”

 the medical document states.
Read more: TV Republika Journalist Attacked for Attempting to Ask a Question. The Case Referred to the Prosecutor’s Office

Press Freedom Monitoring Center Reports the Incident

In response, the Press Freedom Monitoring Center of SDP intervened in the matter of the TV Republika journalist.

On Tuesday, the centre’s director, Dr Jolanta Hajdasz, submitted a notice to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Wieluń, reporting the possibility of a criminal offence involving the beating of a journalist and infliction of bodily harm “under circumstances indicating an intent to suppress press criticism.”

In her letter to the prosecutor, Dr Hajdasz emphasized that the act was “intended to prevent the victim from asking questions of the presidential candidate and to intimidate him in order to discourage him from acting in his capacity as a journalist.”

“There is a concurrence of criminal offences. Article 157 §1 of the Penal Code criminalizes acts of violence resulting in health impairment lasting more than 7 days. In this case, the medical documentation (forensic doctor’s opinion) leaves no doubt regarding the duration of the injuries. Furthermore, (…) the circumstances of the incident indicate that the assault on the journalist also constituted an obstruction and suppression of press criticism, which is a criminal act under Article 44(1) of the Press Law. In addition to this, the journalist’s property was destroyed (Article 288 §1 of the Penal Code). These acts were committed with direct intent,”

 the CMWP statement reads.

What Does the Constitution Guarantee?

Dr. Hajdasz emphasized that the Constitution of the Republic of Poland guarantees freedom of expression as well as the right to acquire and disseminate information.

“Any interference that limits journalists’ ability to perform their informational role constitutes a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights. The actions of the perpetrators directly target not only the individual journalist but also the constitutional foundations of a free society, weakening the oversight mechanism exercised by the media,”

 Dr Hajdasz writes in the notice.

She further noted that such acts of aggression are intended to produce a “chilling effect” on journalists, discouraging them from engaging in critical inquiry.

“As a result, this situation erodes social oversight, which is one of the foundational principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law,” 

she concluded.

Poland’s Presidential Debate at TV Republika: Ten Candidates Face Off

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European Commission Warns of Bird Flu in Poland; Sanitary Measure, Or Poultry Industry Sabotage?

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Polish President Andrzej Duda in Zagreb: Strengthening Polish-Croatian Ties

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Ukraine Peace Negotiations Advancing; Can Trump Bring Peace to Europe?

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Debate Frenzy Sweeps Poland: TV Republika’s Unprecedented Rise Shocks Campaign Teams

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TV Republika

Presidential debates in Poland have evolved into a television and online phenomenon, with their scale surprising even the candidates’ own campaign teams. Of particular note is the unprecedented success of TV Republika, which has recently recorded record-breaking viewership numbers.

A Political Marathon That Drew Millions of Viewers

On April 11, the town of Końskie became Poland’s political epicenter. First, an open debate organized by TV Republika took place in the town square, followed by another debate in the local sports hall, hosted by Rafał Trzaskowski’s campaign team. Trzaskowski did not participate in the Republika debate and delivered—put mildly—a lackluster performance in the one organized by his own team. He was primarily remembered for his remark about using “urban telecommunication” (instead of “public transportation”).

According to Nielsen data, the debate organized by Trzaskowski’s campaign team—simulcast by TVP (in the process of being dissolved), TVN, Polsat, and numerous other broadcasters (including Kanał Zero and TV Republika, both of which used the government station’s feed)—was watched by a total of 6.22 million viewers. That’s an impressive figure, reflecting the high level of public interest in Poland’s presidential election. Equally noteworthy, however, is that an earlier debate held in Końskie’s marketplace—organized by Telewizja Republika, wPolsce24, and TV Trwam—drew a solid 1.89 million viewers.

TV Republika’s true triumph came during Monday’s presidential debate hosted in its own studio. “Republika achieved a historic record in viewership yesterday. Throughout the day, the ‘Free Speech Zone’ station captured a market share of 12.28%,” reported Niezalezna.pl. That result places TV Republika at the top of Poland’s news channels.

Dominance on the Internet

TV Republika has also seen spectacular success online. According to the streaming data site streamscharts.com, the station’s presidential debate became the most-watched stream on YouTube in Poland. Kanał Zero, which rebroadcast the Republika debate, led the viewership rankings with over 280,000 simultaneous viewers, while the official TV Republika channel itself attracted almost 150,000 viewers.

Even more impressive are the figures for the debate’s total reach. According to the “Polityka w sieci” profile, the combined reach amounted to as many as 480 million views, making it one of the biggest media events in Poland in recent years.

The debate also generated a huge buzz on social media. The hashtag #DebataRepubliki on Platform X (formerly Twitter) was used nearly 30,000 times, dominating nationwide trends for hours. This phenomenon illustrates how live political broadcasts have transformed from a traditional television format into true multimedia events that engage audiences across numerous platforms simultaneously.

Surprise in the Campaign Teams

The level of interest in the presidential debates has caught the candidates’ teams off guard, as they had not anticipated such high viewership. In this context, the direct confrontations between candidates become a key component of the campaign, allowing for side-by-side comparisons of their proposals and personalities.

Those who have skipped the debates are losing out; Rafał Trzaskowski and Sławomir Mentzen did not participate in two of the three debates held so far. Karol Nawrocki, Szymon Hołownia, Joanna Senyszyn, Krzysztof Stanowski, and Marek Jakubiak were present at all three.

How important are these debates? Marek Jakubiak told Niezalezna.pl in Końskie: “They’re extremely important because they address the breaking of the law. They carry far more weight in the context of what’s happening here.” Mariusz Błaszczak (PiS) echoed that sentiment, stating that election debates are crucial in a democracy.

Thanks to the success of the debates it has organized, TV Republika has emerged as one of the key players in Poland’s media landscape during the presidential campaign. The station has already announced more debates—both ahead of the first round of voting, in an entirely unique format, as well as a one-on-one showdown before the second round. Regardless of the eventual election outcome, this year’s presidential debates will go down in Polish media history as events that managed to draw millions of citizens to their screens, making TV Republika a leader in viewership within this segment. And who knows—perhaps it will be TV Republika’s debates that ultimately determine who becomes head of state.

Trzaskowski did not show up for the TV Republika debate. “Is such a coward fit to be president?”

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Trzaskowski: it is time for Kaczyński to leave politics
Tv Republika / screenshot

KO’s presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski did not appear at a debate organized by TV Republika. “He doesn’t feel confident in any debate other than the one organized by his own staff,” commented MP Radosław Fogiel (PiS).

Rafał Trzaskowski has been absent from two of the three debates held so far in this election campaign. He did take part in the discussion in Końskie—but in a debate organized by his own campaign team. Yesterday, when a debate was held in the TV Republika studio, Trzaskowski was nowhere to be seen.

His absence from the Republika debate continues to spark considerable controversy. Radosław Fogiel (PiS) reacted to it in a satirical tone.

“He chickened out; he bolted; he didn’t show up. He’s not comfortable in any debate that isn’t organized by his own staff. And now we have to ask ourselves: Is such a coward fit to be president? Can someone so cowardly be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces? I don’t think so!” – commented the opposition MP.

During a press conference in front of Warsaw’s city hall, Fogiel also referred to the presidential debate in Końskie, which took place on Friday. It was organized by Trzaskowski’s campaign staff and broadcast by TVP (in liquidation). According to the PiS MP, that debate was “just a campaign event” for Trzaskowski. He also remarked that the KO candidate’s staff and Polish Television “are passing the buck” when it comes to who was really responsible for organizing the event.

“There are issues here that absolutely need clarification, because we could potentially be dealing with a major scandal,” Fogiel said. He believes there may have been “the provision of free services by TVP to benefit Trzaskowski’s campaign” or a breach of the regulations concerning how public television is to handle election debates.

“There are more and more questions, and we certainly won’t let this go,” Fogiel stressed. According to him, the matter of the Końskie debate “should be investigated by the National Electoral Commission (PKW) and the prosecutor’s office.”

President Duda Responds Strongly to Naryshkin’s Provocation: “An Example of Misleading Disinformation”

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President Andrzej Duda
x.com/prezydentpl/ Przemysław Keler/KPRP

Sergey Naryshkin, one of Vladimir Putin’s close associates, threatened Poland and the Baltic states today, claiming that “Russia will respond with full force to any attack by NATO on the Russian Federation or Belarus.” “This is an example of classic Russian misleading disinformation, typical of the Soviet school of propaganda,” replied Polish President Andrzej Duda.

President Duda was asked about Naryshkin’s statement—namely, that Russia would respond with full force to an attack from NATO on the Russian Federation or Belarus, and that the Baltic countries and Poland would be the first to suffer—in Zagreb, following a meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanović.

According to President Duda, the statement is an example of “classic Russian misleading disinformation, typical of the Soviet school of propaganda.”

“Russia, which is moving its nuclear weapons to Belarus, brazenly bringing them closer to the borders of NATO and the European Union, is the one speaking. Russia, which behaves aggressively toward NATO and is pursuing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, having been attacking Ukraine for three years,” the president stressed.

“NATO Is a Defensive Alliance”

He emphasized that NATO is solely and exclusively a defensive alliance.

“Everything NATO does is a response to Russian aggression. […] NATO has never attacked anyone and does not attack; it is an alliance that only maintains security,” the president said.

Andrzej Duda called for calm and prudence, and for continuing current policies aimed at strengthening security and resilience.

“Strengthening Euro-Atlantic ties, modernizing our armies so that our deterrence potential is real in our countries—[…] this is the only effective policy we should continue to implement calmly and consistently,” he said.

Dr. Marek: Moscow Discourages Warsaw from Defending Itself

Dr. Michał Marek, an expert researching Russian disinformation, stated that Naryshkin’s words are meant to pressure the Baltic states and Poland—among other things to “discourage any potential plans for laying mines along the border with Belarus and the Kaliningrad Oblast.”

In this way, Moscow is trying to dissuade Warsaw from strengthening its defensive capabilities. Furthermore, these actions are aimed at portraying Poland (through messages transmitted to the West) as allegedly responsible for escalating tensions in Europe—a strategy to divert blame from Russia for this process, he assessed.

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