The demand results from a delay in the implementation of an out-of-court settlement concluded in October 2020. The settlement was intended to end the dispute over the infringement of Szustkowski’s personal rights by publications in Axel Springer media.
History of the conflict
The dispute began in 2017, when Szustkowski sued Ringier Axel Springer Polska, the publisher of websites such as fakt.pl, onet.pl and newsweek.pl, for spreading false information. This information concerned Szustkowski’s alleged links with the Russian mafia, the KGB and the GRU, as well as his participation in the “tape scandal” in Poland. Szustkowski claimed that these publications had damaged his good name and demanded a public apology and payment of PLN 4 million for a social purpose.
Axel Springer guilty of publishing false information
In October 2020, the District Court in Warsaw issued a favorable judgment for Szustkowski, ordering Ringier Axel Springer Polska to publish an apology, permanently remove articles that slandered him, and pay a specified sum for a social purpose. The court found that the information published by Axel Springer was false, harmful, and damaging to Szustkowski’s reputation. As a result of this process, a settlement was reached in 2020, the implementation of which, according to Szustkowski, has been significantly delayed.
Defending reputation
As the businessman emphasizes, his actions are aimed at defending against false accusations, not at limiting freedom of speech. He emphasizes that freedom of speech means the right to express an opinion, but does not give the right to distort reality, manipulate facts, or spread untruth without suffering consequences.
Source: https://todaynews.co.uk/2024/08/06/axel-springer-to-face-penalty-of-over-euro-11-million-in-poland/