Presidential Chief of Staff Zbigniew Bogucki has condemned the police intervention at the home of TV Republika editor Tomasz Sakiewicz, calling the actions taken against his assistant both incomprehensible and unacceptable.
The Controversy Over Police Tactics
During an appearance on Kanał Zero, Zbigniew Bogucki questioned the police response to a report regarding an alleged suicide threat at Tomasz Sakiewicz’s residence on Friday, May 15. The operation, which involved handcuffing Sakiewicz’s assistant, was later revealed to be a false alarm, one of 15 similar incidents reported between Thursday and Friday evening.
Bogucki, a former prosecutor, argued that the low credibility of such reports should have been identified, especially as they appear to target a media outlet critical of the current government. He labeled the handcuffing of the assistant an attempt to instill fear among journalists and viewers.
Political Fallout and Security Concerns
The incident originated from a message sent to the Child Rights Ombudsman’s chat, which claimed an individual was attempting to commit suicide using a gas cylinder. Bogucki criticized Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński for failing to maintain order within the department and condemned Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz for defending the police actions.
Conflicting Accounts of the Raid
Tomasz Sakiewicz described the police entry as aggressive, claiming officers acted like “bandits” while searching for a child that did not exist. In response, the police issued a statement explaining that the force was used because the assistant refused to cooperate or identify herself, and the officers had to ensure their own safety during the emergency response.