The Warsaw-Mokotów District Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into repeated threats and insults directed at Tomasz Sakiewicz, Danuta Holecka, Janusz Życzkowski, and Michał Rachoń, as well as threats made against Tomasz Duklanowski. The decision comes four months after the incidents, which took place in January.
A letter sent on May 20 to TV Republika from the Secretariat of the Warsaw-Mokotów District Prosecutor’s Office confirms that the investigation into the January events was formally launched the previous day. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, journalists from TV Republika — Tomasz Sakiewicz, Danuta Holecka, Janusz Życzkowski, Michał Rachoń, and Tomasz Duklanowski — received threats that were serious enough to raise a justified fear that they could be carried out.
In the case of Tomasz Sakiewicz and Danuta Holecka, the threats involved offensive content posted on Facebook as well as direct threats made against them. These incidents occurred on January 8.
Janusz Życzkowski, a journalist at TV Republika, received threats via a private Facebook message on January 18 (though the letter mistakenly lists the date as September 18, 2025). The message also contained offensive language.
“No later than January 14,” threats against Michał Rachoń were posted on Twitter, along with offensive remarks. Around the same time, investigative journalist Tomasz Duklanowski also received threats.
Under Article 190 of the Polish Penal Code, making criminal threats is punishable by up to three years in prison. Niezależna will continue to report on the progress of the investigation.