Poland: Ex-PM Falsely Links Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz to Russian Spy – WPF Condemns Attempt to Discredit
December 17, 2024 - Poland, Warsaw
Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz, a journalist at TVP, is suing former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for defamation after he falsely accused her of having ties to a Russian spy.
The accusation came after Dobrosz-Oracz asked Morawiecki about his involvement in the "Stop Russia Now" campaign as part of an investigation.
Pavel Rubtsov, also known as Pablo González Yagüe, is a Russian-Spanish journalist who worked as a Russian military intelligence operative before his arrest in Poland. He was later exchanged in a prisoner swap involving RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich, and other Russian dissidents imprisoned in Russia.
By linking Dobrosz-Oracz to Rubtsov, the former Prime Minister was trying to deflect from important questions about possible misconduct and discredit the journalist. Dobrosz-Oracz swiftly rejected the claim she was associated with the Russian spy, calling it "slander."
Women Press Freedom stands with Dobrosz-Oracz and all journalists uncovering the truth. We condemn this attack against her and believe it is an attempt to discredit a journalist for asking tough questions.
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