Poland: Gazeta Wyborcza reporter Angelika Pitoń faces two criminal charges for covering the Women's March

November 27, 2020 – On November 17, 2020, two criminal charges were filed against Gazeta Wyborcza reporter Angelika Pitoń. The charges stem from a demonstration in the southern town of Zakopane on November 6, as part of the nationwide Women's March. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns these infringements against journalists and demands Polish authorities to end the intimidation of the press. 

According to the police, the journalist was not wearing a mask, as per Covid-19 regulation, and used inappropriate words against them. Under Polish law, a person who makes an indecent speech in public can be fined 1.5k PLN (€ 335) or jailed. Not wearing a mask outside during the pandemic could lead to a fine of up to 500 PLN (112 €).

In Gazeta Wyborcza's statement, Angelika and her colleague Monika Waluś were conducting interviews during the rally when the police approached them. Angelika said to the newspaper, “We started talking before the protest formally began. We stood in a circle of five and had masks on our faces. We talked about the scale of violence in Podhale [the region where Zakopane is]."

Angelika stated that despite seeing their press ID cards, police interfered with the journalists, claiming they were not obeying social distancing rules. The main charge against the journalist was for not wearing a mask. The journalist was summoned to a police station in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska for questioning 11 days later. Speaking to Gazeta Wyborcza, Pitoń said the police actions were an attempt to suppress and intimidate her, describing the charges as absurd. She said she was wearing a mask that covered her mouth and nose during the interview.

On 26 November, the police withdrew the charges against Angelika Pitoń. Roman Wieczorek, the spokesperson for Zakopane police, said the decision was made after the evidence was collected and analyzed.

Earlier, Agata Grzybowska, a photojournalist for RATS agency, was detained, forced into a police van and taken to a police station despite showing her press card to the officers. The arrest occurred while Agata was covering a recent protest in the capital city. The demonstration was in protest of the restrictive abortion law, calling for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Przemysław Czarnek.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism follows the recent incidents in Poland with great concern. Many women journalists have become a target, especially while reporting on sensitive and controversial issues across the country. We call upon the government to strongly condemn any violence against reporters. We demand the Polish authorities respect press freedom and ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.