President Karol Nawrocki granted clemency to Weronika Krawczyk on Monday, resolving a defamation case stemming from an online post.
President Grants Clemency to Weronika Krawczyk
President Karol Nawrocki exercised his right of clemency in the case of Weronika Krawczyk, as announced by presidential minister Mateusz Kotecki on Monday.
The Presidential Chancellery confirmed the decision, stating that President Nawrocki issued a decree on April 13, 2026, granting clemency to Ms. Krawczyk, who consented to the public release of her personal data.
Details of the Clemency
The President’s decree pardoned the penalty of restricted freedom, the criminal measure of publishing the verdict publicly, and the obligation to apologize to the injured party, as well as erasing the conviction.
Ms. Krawczyk had been convicted of the crime outlined in Article 212 § 2 of the Polish Penal Code – defamation using mass communication.
Reasons for the Clemency
The President’s justification for the clemency highlighted the incidental nature of the offense, the stabilized lifestyle of the individual, and her family situation – specifically, caring for three minor children, including one with a disability.
The decision also considered principles of justice and rationality in criminal punishment, as well as broader social considerations.
Background of the Case
According to media reports, in 2016, Weronika Krawczyk was advised by her pregnancy doctor that her unborn son had Down syndrome, and was repeatedly urged to have an abortion, which she refused.
Six years later, in 2022, Ms. Krawczyk warned another woman seeking a gynecologist about the same doctor on an online forum.
The doctor had been convicted in 2008 for performing illegal abortions in a private practice in Gdańsk.
Legal Proceedings and Appeal
The case was brought to court through a private prosecution. The court ruled that the post violated the doctor’s personal rights and sentenced Ms. Krawczyk to community service and an obligation to apologize.
Ms. Krawczyk’s refusal to apologize, citing the doctor’s attempt to terminate her pregnancy, led to a potential sentence of one and a half months in prison. She filed a petition for clemency with President Karol Nawrocki on December 12, 2025.