Artykuł 55a ustawy o Instytucie Pamięci Narodowej – Komisji Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w relacji do art. 55 tej ustawy oraz art. 133 Kodeksu karnego

The purpose of this opinion is to determine the relation between Article 133 of the Penal Code and Article 55 of the Act on The Institute of National Remembrance. The statutory features of these punishable acts have been analysed. Article 133 of the Penal Code penalizes a public insult of the Polish Nation (in a broad, constitutional sense of that term). According to Article 55 of the Act on The Institute of National Remembrance it is prohibited to deny, publicly and contrary to the facts, Nazi crimes, communist crimes or other crimes against peace, humanity or war crimes, perpetrated on persons of Polish nationality or Polish citizens of other nationalities. Article 55a of the mentioned Act protects good reputation as a part of dignity of the Polish Nation and the Polish State. Different legal norms of behavior are described in each of these provisions – the scope of criminalisation is different. Neither Article 133 of the Penal Code, nor Article 55 of the Act on The Institute of National Remembrance match all punishable features provided by Article 55a of the Act on The Institute of National Remembrance.