The arrest of investigative journalist Leszek Kraskowski has raised serious concerns among members of the media community and advocates of civil rights. Although prosecutors have presented a number of arguments to justify placing him in pre-trial detention for three months, questions remain as to whether such a severe measure was truly necessary.
Kraskowski is suspected of possessing firearms and ammunition without a permit, as well as threatening to kill the district police commander in Piaseczno in an attempt to force him to intervene in a specific matter. During questioning, the journalist pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Kraskowski is a well-known figure in Polish journalism. He previously worked as an investigative reporter for Rzeczpospolita, Wprost, Super Express, and Dziennik. He currently publishes materials on his own news website and YouTube channel. He is particularly known for reports concerning Civic Coalition MP Roman Giertych and matters related to the company Polnord.
The journalist’s arrest, especially in the context of his publications concerning Polnord, has attracted significant public attention. Poland’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Marcin Wiącek, and Press Club Polska president Marcin Lewicki called on prosecutors to provide information explaining the grounds for imposing three months of detention.
Their appeal forms part of a broader debate over whether pre-trial detention—the most severe preventive measure available under Polish law—is excessive in this case, particularly when applied to a practicing journalist. In public discourse, pre-trial detention is often criticized as being used too readily in situations where less restrictive measures, such as police supervision or financial bail, might be sufficient.
Prosecutor’s Office position
The appeal was answered by the Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which has taken over the investigation. Spokesman Prosecutor Piotr Antoni Skiba outlined in detail the reasons behind the request for detention.
According to Skiba, the evidence collected indicates a high probability that the suspect committed the alleged offenses. Prosecutors cited specific grounds provided for in the Polish Code of Criminal Procedure, including a justified concern that the suspect might flee or go into hiding, obstruct the investigation, and the fact that he faces a potentially severe sentence.
The spokesman noted that the suspect frequently travels abroad. According to prosecutors, the risk of obstructing proceedings is also supported by the fact that the suspect allegedly announced in an email his intention to “cause harm to the police commander,” while firearms and ammunition were found in the vehicle in which he was detained. Prosecutors further emphasized that the offenses in question carry a severe penalty. Skiba stated that the investigation had not revealed any circumstances warranting a departure from the use of pre-trial detention.
Addressing concerns related to the suspect’s profession, the Prosecutor’s Office also commented on the issue of journalistic privilege. According to Skiba, Leszek Kraskowski did not invoke journalistic confidentiality at any stage of the proceedings.
Questions remain
Despite the detailed explanation provided by prosecutors, questions regarding the proportionality of the measure remain unanswered. On one side are investigators’ arguments concerning a genuine threat and the risk of interference with the investigation; on the other are calls from civil rights advocates and members of the journalistic community for transparency and restraint in resorting to detention.
The case of Leszek Kraskowski highlights the delicate balance between safeguarding the proper course of criminal proceedings and avoiding the overuse of the most severe preventive measures available. The ultimate assessment of the validity of the charges will depend on the further course of the proceedings. It is worth recalling that, like any individual before a final court verdict, the suspect is presumed innocent.