Journalists of Wirtualna Polska called to the police. RPO intervenes

The Ombudsman undertook an ex officio case of journalists of Wirtualna Polska, called by the police to provide explanations regarding the authorization of the statement of the former rector of the Humanitas Academy in Sosnowiec, a member of the program councils of Polish Radio and PAP Michał Kaczmarczyk.

The intervention of the RPO concerns police activities towards journalists of Wirtualna Polska Paweł Figurski and Patryk Słowik. These are the authors of two related articles: “Buy a certificate. All of Poland with a” quality mark “” published in September 2024 and “How to become a member of the Public Media Program Council in liquidation” published in May 2025 regarding Kaczmarczyk.

On Tuesday, Figurski and Słowik announced on the WP portal that Kaczmarczyk reported to the police that WP journalists did not enable him to authorize the statements in the text about him. WP journalists pointed out that Kaczmarczyk sent his statements in writing, and quoting them, they did not change the sense of the statement.

“We are after interrogations in the police, soon the matter in court,” wrote Słowik on X on Wednesday.

The head of the Department of the BRPO Criminal Law Team applied to the Police District Commander for information about the proceedings.

The RPO office pointed out that the basis for the RPO took place was the publication of the Wirtualna Polska portal, which showed that As a result of the report of the Polish Radio Program Councils and the Polish press agency Michał Kaczmarczyk, procedural actions are conducted at the Warsaw-Polosa Police Station with the participation of both journalists, and the case was referred to court.

The legal opinion on this matter was prepared by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFPC). Noted that The proceedings regarding WP journalists are pending on an offense that was to consist of publication of a literally cited statement in the text of the Polish Army without allowing authorization. HFPC emphasized that in a situation where the interlocutor gives the journalist a speech in writing, having time to think about it and being aware that the questions were directed in connection with the preparation of the press material, and the journalist faithfully quotes the transmitted text without changing sense, There is no reason to talk about the need to perform authorization.

HFPC emphasized that in special circumstances, offense responsibility for lack of authorization can be used as a tool aimed at drawing a journalist into a long -lasting process, causing a chilling effect and discouraging from taking a specific subject.

In September last year, WP journalists wrote that People and companies associated with Kaczmarczyk, then the rector of the Humanitas Academy in Sosnowiec, and the university itself sell certificates, accreditation and prizes in competitions, and they are bought by public universities, local governments, hospitals, and state offices.

In the May publication, WP wrote that the recommendation to enter the program councils of the Polish Radio and the Polish Press Agency issued Kaczmarczyk an organization managed by his mother, and the chairman of the National Media Council Wojciech Król (KO) studied at the Humanitas Academy in Sosnowiec, when Kaczmarczyk was her rector.

The Polish Press Agency SA in liquidation emphasized on Wednesday that it has no competence in the appointment of members of the Program Council, which, in accordance with applicable regulations, is an advisory body appointed by the National Media Council. PAP issued a statement “in connection with information appearing in public space and critical comments regarding the public activity of one of the members of the PAP program Council in liquidation.” (PAP)

KNO/ ABA/ MOW/