Nawrocki vs Onet: Court Opens Latest Hearing to Public

In brief

• A Warsaw court has made the latest hearing in the civil case between Karol Nawrocki and Onet public.
• The lawsuit concerns an article from May 2025 alleging Nawrocki's role in arranging prostitutes at the Sopot Grand Hotel.
• Witness Piotr Głuchowski testified about Nawrocki's alleged involvement in organizing women for hotel guests.
• The court allowed public access to the session, which media can record but not broadcast live.

Case Overview

The Warsaw District Court determined on Tuesday that the most recent session in the civil suit brought by President Karol Nawrocki against Ringier Axel Springer Polska, the publisher of Onet, will be accessible to the public (Proces Nawrockiego z Onetem. Sąd wpuszcza publiczność na rozprawę – Rzeczpospolita) (Ruszyła pierwsza jawna rozprawa w procesie Karola Nawrockiego przeciwko wydawcy Onetu – Bankier.pl). The dispute centers on an article published in May 2025 titled "Karol Nawrocki i tajemnice Grand Hotelu". The article, written by Andrzej Stankiewicz and Jacek Harłukowicz, appeared shortly before the second round of the presidential elections ([Spór Karola Nawrockiego z Onetem. O co chodzi w procesie [WYJAŚNIAMY] – Onet](https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/spor-karola-nawrockiego-z-onetem-przypominamy-czego-dotyczy/rkw1n6y)). Nawrocki is seeking an apology and compensation for the alleged violation of his personal rights (Nagły zwrot w procesie prezydenta Nawrockiego z Onet-em Sąd podjął decyzję – Dziennik.pl). The claims stem from information provided by former colleagues of Nawrocki who worked in the security staff of the Sopot Grand Hotel, alleging his involvement in arranging prostitutes for hotel guests (Opisał pracę Karola Nawrockiego w Grand Hotelu przed Onetem. Wiemy, co Piotr Głuchowski powiedział przed sądem – Onet).

Hearing Proceedings and Public Access

Prior sessions in the case were conducted without public attendance. Lawyers representing Onet requested that the court allow public access to the proceedings (Proces Karola Nawrockiego z Onetem staje się jawny – Onet) (Proces Karola Nawrockiego z Onetem. Sąd zdecyduje o jawności – Onet). The court granted this request for the latest hearing. Media outlets are permitted to record the session, but live broadcasting is prohibited.

Witness Testimony and Next Steps

Piotr Głuchowski of Gazeta Wyborcza was among the witnesses scheduled to testify on Tuesday. Głuchowski first reported on Nawrocki's professional activities at the Grand Hotel in the autumn of 2024, before Nawrocki was nominated as the Law and Justice candidate for president. Głuchowski stated in court that Nawrocki assisted in organizing women for the hotel's patrons, and that the group involved was larger than previously reported. Andrzej Stankiewicz said after the September 29 hearing that the upcoming session might be one of the final ones before Nawrocki is questioned, and that Onet would call the president as a witness if his legal team did not. Onet also announced plans for a special broadcast following the hearing (Proces Karola Nawrockiego z Onetem. Zapraszamy na program specjalny – Onet).