The Supreme Court accepted in their entirety the arguments of the CHR, who intervened in the case of a journalist accused of defamation
Date:
The Supreme Court accepted in their entirety the arguments of the Commissioner for Human Rights, who intervened in the case of a journalist accused of defamation
In February 2017, the journalist sent an email to the press office of an energy company, asking for a stance on the issue of one of the company's employees combining his position as a member of its supervisory board with that of mayor of a municipality cooperating with the company. Additionally, the journalist wrote about opinions and unconfirmed and untrue information about mismanagement and financial harm to the municipality by this employee. As a result, the journalist was accused of defamation and found guilty by the courts of both instances.
The Commissioner for Human Rights Marcin Wiącek filed a cassation to the Supreme Court, requesting that the verdict be overturned and the journalist acquitted. According to the Commissioner, it cannot be considered that the accused exceeded the boundaries of freedom of speech. He also pointed out that the limits of permissible criticism are greater for politicians than for private individuals, because their activities require public control carried out mainly by journalists.
On May 9 2023, after reviewing the case and considering the argumentation of the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Supreme Court acquitted the journalist.
