Vitali Mazurenko, Ukrainian journalist, was released after a controversial statement about President Karol Nawrocki. There were also ambiguities regarding his alleged doctorate studies at KUL.
Controversial speech in Polsat News
During the program "Gozdyra Debate" on Polsat News Mazurenkocompared President Karol Nawrocki to "pachan" – this term in Russian slang means criminal leader. This statement sparked an immediate reaction leading to and a violent wave of criticism, both in the media and in the political community.
- Agnieszka Gozdyr, the programme manager, immediately responded by informing us that the allowed debate had been exceeded.
- The statement was considered by the editor of the "International Observer" as a private opinion, incompatible with the editorial line.
- A few hours after the program, Mazurenko lost his job in the portal and the position of deputy editor-in-chief.
What consequences did Vitali Mazurenko have?
The editorial "International Observer" stressed that it does not accept questioning the seriousness of the President's office and assured of the immediate cessation of cooperation. Such a quick reaction shows the setting of clear limits of journalists' responsibility for the word. Public figures also referred to the case, even sending notices to the D.A. for insulting the head of state.
The main consequences for Mazurenko:
- Loss of job in the information portal.
- Loss of deputy editor-in-chief.
- A public wave of criticisms and accusations of crossing the borders of free speech.
Who really is Vitali Mazurenko?
In the public debate, Mazurenko introduced himself as a journalist, lawyer and PhD student of KUL. However, in response to media reports, the Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II issued an official statement in which it excludes Mazurenko's relationships with the university.It was deleted from the list of PhD students as early as November 2020 and has since not been associated with KUL.
Key facts about Vitaly Mazurence
Approval of flagism
On his Facebook profile, still in 2020 Vitalia Mazuernko published an entry from the wax museum, in which he commends Stepan Bandera – Ukrainian nationalist and perpetrator of crimes in Poles during the Volynska Rzezi.
