Special services ‘over the top’ in website censorship case

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Monday, Tusk said that “laws protecting politicians more than other people should be changed,” adding that a parliamentary debate should take place on whether defamation of public office should carry a penalty.

In the central town of Tomasz Mazowiecki last week, ABW agents stormed the apartment of Robert Frycz, an administrator of the AntyKomor.pl satirical website poking fun at President Bronislaw Komorowski.

The Polish penal code envisages a three year sentence for defamation of the presidential office, although a motion was put forward to the Constitutional Tribunal in 2009 to check the legality of such a law.

Meanwhile, Donald Tusk said that “there’s no point in criticising the ABW for their actions,” adding that the security services “are also subject to unclear laws which allow for such actions.”

Contrary to rumour, Donald Tusk denied that he was behind the raid on Frycz’s apartment last week.

In an interview with Monday’s Super Express tabloid, President Bronislaw Komorowski also stated that he had nothing to do with the dawn raid, stating that it was undertaken “following the independent decision of prosecutors.”

Case handed over to Ombudsman

Meanwhile, the alleged defamation case has been handed over by Frycz’s lawyer to the Polish Citizens’ Ombudsman (officially titled the 'Human Rights Defender'), Irena Lipowicz.

In a letter to Lipowicz, Frycz’s lawyer, Bartosz Kownacki writes that “there were no justifiable reasons to give an order to confiscate [Frycz’s] possessions, search his premises, and furthermore for ABW agents to undertake such actions.”

Kownacki also added that once Frycz had handed over his laptop to the authorities, the ABW should not have searched the remainder of his apartment. (jb)

Source: PAP