A Polish Justice Ministry commission revealed a systematic pattern of state pressure targeting activists and journalists between 2015 and 2023.
Report Details System of Pressure
A commission at the Ministry of Justice has found evidence of a consistent system of state pressure operating between 2015 and 2023, reportedly used against activists and journalists. The findings are detailed in a second “partial report” presented on Monday.
The report, exceeding 500 pages, outlines instances of SLAPP lawsuits and other forms of harassment against civil society organizations.
SLAPP Lawsuits and Intimidation Tactics
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek emphasized that SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) involves the abuse of legal institutions, including lawsuits and prosecutorial actions, to intimidate and harm individuals.
Żurek stated the goal was not to prove a case, but to “destroy a person” through legal means, causing harassment and disruption.
Mechanisms of Pressure on Activists and Journalists
The commission’s chair, Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram, described the period as a “David versus Goliath” struggle, with activists and journalists facing the full force of state repression on criminal, civil, administrative, and regulatory levels.
The aim of these actions, she asserted, was to silence critical voices and force individuals to divert their time and resources into legal defense rather than public engagement.
State as a Source of Threat
Gregorczyk-Abram stated that the state, intended as a guarantor of security, instead became a source of threat to those targeted. The report also addresses pressure on media outlets and individual journalists, including those at the local level, subjected to SLAPP lawsuits.
Report Focuses on LGBTQ+ Activists, Teachers, and Judges
The report details pressure on activists working on LGBTQ+ rights, as well as teachers who supported students’ civic engagement, particularly during periods when schools monitored activities related to equality, such as “rainbow Fridays.”
It also examines repression against “independent judges and prosecutors” who criticized judicial reforms and actions taken against figures in the Polish cultural sphere.
Commission Recommendations and Legal Changes
The commission has proposed recommendations categorized into three groups: responses to SLAPP lawsuits (including implementing an “anti-SLAPP” directive), restoring the constitutional character of institutions safeguarding civil liberties (such as the Constitutional Tribunal), and adding a provision to defamation laws exempting truthful reporting on public officials.
The Ministry of Justice indicated that a project addressing these issues is currently under review by the Council of Ministers’ Standing Committee.
Report Origins and Future Work
The commission was established in April 2025 by then-Justice Minister Adam Bodnar to investigate repression against civil society organizations and activists between 2015 and 2023. A first partial report, focusing on public media, was presented in September 2025.
The commission is expected to produce a third partial report and a final report upon completion of its work.