Polish Minister of Defence Antoni Macierewicz was sentenced by Warsaw’s district court on September 30 to apologize to Maciej Lasek and pay 20,000 zloty, following a libel case filed by Lasek.
Macierewicz’s Loss in Court
The Warsaw District Court issued its decision on September 30, ruling that Antoni Macierewicz must issue a public apology to business magnate Maciej Lasek and pay a fine of 20,000 zloty. The case concerned remarks made by the minister on 21 April 2020 in which he called Lasek a liar, a fraudster, and accused him of forging an expert report about the Smolensk air disaster. The court found Macierewicz’s words exceeded acceptable criticism, amounting to a breach of Lasek’s personal dignity. The judgment is not yet final.
Sharp Words at Macierewicz
On social media platform X, Radosław Sikorski described Macierewicz as a “scoundrel, disaster and lunatic” and accused him of allowing the Polish Army to be demolished. Sikorski added that the court’s ruling should bring the case to an end. Meanwhile, Maciej Lasek expressed hope that the decision would settle the matter.
Court’s Rationale
Judge Radosław Tukaj explained that neither side challenged the content of Macierewicz’s statements. The court described the remarks as “strong and categorical,” potentially violating personal rights and exceeding permissible criticism. It noted that Lasek had become the target of Macierewicz’s attacks, despite over 30 individuals signing the expert opinion on the Smolensk disaster.
