We call upon Zbigniew Ziobro to resign as justice minister as it's necessary for the impartial investigation of this scandal - reads the statement issued by the Association of Judges "Themis", regarding the smear campaign scandal targeting certain judges.
Last week, Onet.pl website publication revealed a hate campaign aimed to discredit and vilify some Polish judges in the social media.
Members of the Association of Judges "Themis" has issued a statement in which they express "deep outrage caused by the government propaganda repeated by the justice minister and his subordinates". "Themis" claim that the propaganda is based on "presenting the so-called Piebiak scandal as an internal conflict between judges and shifting the responsibility for the behaviour of the ministry employees on the whole judicial community".
According to the judges, "a group of public officers, who once used to be judges, and justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro as their boss, are really responsible for this scandal".
Furthermore, the judges claim that "the presence of people associated with the internet hater named Emi, or membership in the "Caste" forum, inciting haters' activity, all prove that the key new institutions, created under the banner of the so-called justice system overhaul, are politically corrupt and morally compromised".
They also underscored that "the smear campaign against judges orchestrated by justice ministry employees may bare features of a number of illegal acts". Among those they listed overstepping authority by public officers, stalking, disclosure of information from criminal and disciplinary proceedings, as well as disrespecting of public officer, "and possibly even membership in an organised criminal group".
"We call upon the justice minister and the public prosecutor general, Zbigniew Ziobro, to resign as it's necessary for the impartial investigation of this scandal," the judges announced. They also underscored that their call has nothing do to with Ziobro's party or political affiliation.
Moreover, "Themis" called for an immediate suspension of activities by the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) - "until its status have been cleared by the European Court of Justice, and some of its members' connection to the internet hater Emilia have been explained". Also stressed was the necessity to summon a parliamentary investigative commission.
According to Onet.pl, the hate campaign is said to have involved, among others, former deputy justice minister Łukasz Piebiak, KRS members: Maciej Nawacki and Jarosław Dudzicz, Supreme Court justice Konrad Wytrykowski and judge-delegate at the ministry of justice Jakub Iwaniec.
After the scandal broke out, Piebiak stepped down as deputy minister and Iwaniec was recalled from delegation to the ministry. Wytrykowski announced that all information published by Onet.pl were untrue and infringed on his good name and reputation.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24