Interior and Administration Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced that a lawsuit would be filed against Telewizja Republika. The case concerns the disclosure of the identity of one of the police officers who allegedly refused to identify himself during the raid on the home of Tomasz Sakiewicz. Jarosław Olechowski, head of editors at the station, responded to Kierwiński’s statement, arguing that Republika had only shown publicly available information.
Journalists from Telewizja Republika and other media outlets belonging to the Free Speech Zone network became targets of harassment. False reports about terrorists, suicides, or urgent emergencies led law enforcement officers to enter their homes. The situation escalated when unidentified police officers entered Tomasz Sakiewicz’s apartment, which also houses editorial offices. Sakiewicz’s assistant, Ms. Aleksandra, was handcuffed during the operation.
In footage published by the Republika chairman, the officers can allegedly be seen refusing to identify themselves while wearing badges from a police station in Poczesna, in the Silesian Voivodeship. On Tuesday, the station published the image of one of the officers. Government representatives responded by announcing legal action.
Lawsuit announced
“This is not journalism. This is not television. This is simply the harassment of Polish police officers who risk their health and lives every day while carrying out their duties. TV Republika crossed yet another line of decency today by revealing the officer’s personal data. In response, the police will file a motion in court for the protection of personal rights,” Interior Ministry spokeswoman Karolina Gałecka wrote on X.
Minister Marcin Kierwiński also commented, attacking the station.
“The PiS propaganda loudspeaker known as Republika will stop at nothing disgusting. Revealing a police officer’s personal information is an attack on the police and on public safety. The matter will go to court. Zero tolerance for this kind of hateful behavior,” he declared.
“Are you really this incompetent?”
Jarosław Olechowski, head of editors at Telewizja Republika, responded to Kierwiński’s statement.
“Revealing data? You mean showing a PUBLICLY AVAILABLE POLICE WEBSITE where the officer’s photograph and personal details were posted. Minister, are you alright? Is insulting people all you can do?” he wrote.
Olechowski also questioned the progress of the investigation into the false emergency reports.
“So you’ll arrest another random innocent person again? Are you really this incompetent?” he asked the Interior Minister.
“Please get to work instead of insulting journalists on X. Taxpayers do not pay you for that,” he concluded.
Detention of an innocent man
Earlier, police announced that a 53-year-old man had been detained in connection with the false emergency reports. However, he was later released after officers concluded that his personal data had been stolen and that he was, in fact, another victim in the case.
Another victim, because two YouTubers claim that their personal information has been used to trigger the false emergency calls — and that this has reportedly been happening for quite some time.