Adam Michnik protests restructuring of Gazeta Wyborcza legal department

The publisher of Gazeta Wyborcza, Agora, is significantly restructuring the newspaper's legal department, leading to the departure of key legal experts. Agnieszka Całka, a legal advisor specializing in press law and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), has had her B2B contract terminated. Reports indicate she received notice of the termination via email while attending a court hearing.

Adam Michnik, the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, reportedly walked out of a meeting with the company's management after feeling his views were disregarded during discussions regarding the dismantling of the legal department. Employees and union representatives expressed concern over the management's methods, with one staff member describing the pressure to sign off on the termination of Całka's power of attorney as “blackmail.”

The restructuring may leave Piotr Rogowski, a veteran legal collaborator of 34 years, as the sole remaining specialist in the department, following the potential departure of coordinator Anna Mańkowska. Agora spokesperson Anna Marucha stated that these changes are part of a “comprehensive restructuring of the legal support model” across all media companies within the Agora Group.