The Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office has closed two investigations into December 2023 incidents at Polish Television and the Television Information Agency involving Law and Justice MPs.
Prosecution Drops Two Investigations
The Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office has decided to discontinue investigations into incidents that took place at the headquarters of Polish Television and the Television Information Agency in December 2023.
Case 1: Alleged Assault on MP Joanna Borowiak
The first investigation concerned a claim that MP Joanna Borowiak of the Law and Justice party was assaulted during a parliamentary intervention at TVP headquarters on Woronicza Street on 20 December 2023. After a thorough review of the evidence, including a full recording of the event, the prosecutor concluded that the actor’s conduct was not intentional and lacked any intent to cause harm. The prosecutor also said the individual was merely trying to block access to a portion of the chairman’s office that was in use by Borowiak and other MPs. The decision to drop the case is not final; the MP may appeal to court.
Case 2: MP Paweł Szrot Pretended Police Officer
The second investigation centered on MP Paweł Szrot of the Law and Justice party who, on 23 December 2023 at Warsaw Insurgents Square, tried to enter room 317 of the Television Information Agency by posing as a police officer. The prosecutor determined that shouting “police” and knocking did not constitute a crime unless the individual had carried out police functions such as demanding identification or conducting a search. None of those actions occurred, and the prosecutor ruled the behavior was not criminal. The dismissal is final and not subject to appeal.
MPs Retain Right to Appeal
In the first case, the MP is entitled to file an appeal against the prosecutor’s decision. In the second case, the dismissal is deemed legal and cannot be challenged.