• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Journalist Facing Charges For Exposé Book (Poland: UA 196.17)

November 9, 2017

Investigative journalist Tomasz Piątek is facing criminal charges for a book he published in June, alleging a link between the Defence Minister and the Russian intelligence services. If found guilty he could face up to 3 years in prison.

Tomasz Piątek, an investigative journalist for Gazeta Wyborcza, could face criminal prosecution for his exposé book, “Macierewicz and his secrets” (Macierewicz i jego tajemnice), in which he makes allegations of purported links between Antoni Macierewicz, Poland’s Minister of Defence and the Russian intelligence services. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter; send an email; fax or tweet:
  • Immediately drop the case against Tomasz Piątek and not pursue any criminal charges if they relate solely to his book or peaceful work as an investigative journalist;
  • Fully respect the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression in Poland, which involves ensuring human rights defenders and journalists can carry out their legitimate activities free of harassment and without fear of reprisals.

Contact these two officials by 21 December 2017:

Minister of Justice Prosecutor General Zbigniew Ziobro Prokuratura Krajowa ul Rakowiecka 26/30 02-528 Warszawa Poland Twitter: @ZiobroPL Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General

Ambassador Piotr Wilczek, Embassy of the Republic of Poland 2640 16th St. NW, Washington DC 20009 Phone: 1 202 499 1700 I Fax: 1 202 328 6271 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @AmbWilczek Salutation: Dear Ambassador

2) LET US KNOW YOU TOOK ACTION Click here to let us know if you took action on this case! This is Urgent Action 196.17 Here’s why it is so important to report your actions: we record the actions taken on each case—letters, emails, calls and tweets—and use that information in our advocacy. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES