Reporters Without Borders today condemned the six-month suspended prison sentence and fine of 5000 zlotys (1,300 euros) which a court in the eastern city of Lublin imposed on Jacek Brzuszkiewicz of Gazeta Wyborcza on 12 July after finding him guilty under article 212 (2) of the criminal code of libelling Maciej Kierek, a judge attached to the Lublin administrative court.
“The sentence is out of all proportion to the offence, but unfortunately this is common in Poland,” the press freedom organisation said. “It is high time that Poland amended its legislation to bring itself into line with the relevant European standards.”
Brzuskiewick was prosecuted over a series of articles in 2003 in which he criticised the verdict issued by Kierek in a dispute between the residents of a public housing project and the owner of a laundry who used toxic products. The judge ruled in favour of the laundry owner.
Brzuszkiewicz’s lawyer said he will appeal.
