“On the basis of this low-level threat, they forcibly enter our homes. This is an attack on fundamental human rights. I call on everyone to engage in civic resistance, I call for solidarity,” wrote the head of TV Republika, Tomasz Sakiewicz, in a statement referring to the police entering his apartment. During the intervention, Sakiewicz’s assistant was handcuffed.
Journalists from TV Republika have been facing attacks involving false reports made to emergency services. Police have been intervening at their places of residence over reports concerning possible suicides, deceased persons, or planted explosive materials. Today, officers entered the home of Tomasz Sakiewicz (where the editorial office is also located) and handcuffed his assistant. The matter sparked widespread outrage. Among those who commented were Jarosław Kaczyński, head of Law and Justice, and Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak from Confederation.
Sakiewicz: This is an attack on fundamental human rights
The head of TV Republika issued a statement on social media.
“Today, police forcibly entered my home-office in Warsaw, where I have run my company for years. They roughed up and handcuffed my assistant. The only reason for the brutal treatment of the woman was that she demanded that the officers identify themselves. Then, without any authorization and without the presence of the owner at the places of operation, a search was carried out. The assistant was led out and abandoned in the middle of the street. She had visible bodily injuries. Such actions have for dozens of hours been undertaken against other journalists of Republika and the editorial offices of our media outlets. The authorities are using people posing a terrorist threat to carry out attacks on us. Instead of passing information about a possible attack to the persons concerned, the Government Security Centre is sending random people an email with my surname regarding a threat as an example of something with a low level of danger. On the basis of this low-level threat, they forcibly enter our homes. This is an attack on fundamental human rights. I call on everyone to engage in civic resistance, I call for solidarity,” wrote Tomasz Sakiewicz.