“The disgraceful words spoken by Władysław Frasyniuk about soldiers and officers deserve condemnation and a severe penalty,” said Mariusz Błaszczak (Law and Justice Party – PiS), calling the decision to acquit Frasyniuk a scandal. “This government has no respect for the Polish uniform!” he added, reminding that Polish soldiers prosecuted in court cannot expect such lenient treatment. Even members of parliament, noted Joachim Brudziński, are treated differently depending on their political affiliation.
The scandalous words of Władysław Frasyniuk, who called Polish soldiers and Border Guard officers defending the border with Belarus “trash” and a “pack of dogs,” were spoken live on TVN24 on August 22, 2021. At that time, the hybrid war was intensifying, and the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka was sending hundreds of illegal migrants to the Polish border. In the first instance, in March of this year, the District Court for Wrocław-Śródmieście found that Frasyniuk had violated the dignity and good name of the soldiers. He was convicted of this offense (Article 216 §2 of the Penal Code) and fined 15,000 PLN.
Yesterday, following an appeal, the Wrocław court acquitted Frasyniuk.
“A scandalous decision by the court in the case of Władysław Frasyniuk. The disgraceful words he spoke about soldiers and officers deserve condemnation and a severe punishment. Meanwhile, Frasyniuk remains the darling of the liberal elite, who consider him a hero,”
commented Mariusz Błaszczak, chairman of the PiS parliamentary club, on the verdict.
He also pointed out the completely different approach given to the “favorites of those in power” compared to that of Polish soldiers.
“Captain Anna Michalska recently lost the support of the Żurek-led prosecution in her fight to defend her good name. A team of prosecutors is still active, whose sole task is to pursue the defenders of the borders. A police officer who ensured safety in the buffer zone and a soldier who defended himself and his comrades ‘on the line’ must now defend themselves in court. Meanwhile, a celebrity who insulted Border Guard officers shines on TVP during its liquidation. This government has no respect for the Polish uniform!”
Błaszczak added.
The “celebrity” in question is, of course, Barbara Kurdej-Szatan, and one could also mention the acquittal of actor Piotr Zelt, who verbally attacked Captain Michalska.
The courts’ approach also varies even when it comes to politicians alone – for how can Frasyniuk be acquitted for calling soldiers and border guards “trash” and a “pack of dogs,” while MP Bruliński (PiS) is fined 30,000 PLN for calling Bartosz Kramek a “smart aleck”?