Polish activist Justyna Wydzhinsky was sentenced in Warsaw to 8 months of compulsory labor in the country's first case of "illegal complicity in abortion" , writes BBC Russian Service. The defendant sent a package of abortion pills to a woman who complained of domestic violence.
According to the media, Wydzhinska collaborates with the Polish movement Aborcyjny Dream Team, which defends the right of women to have an abortion. According to the lawyer, a woman called the movement's hotline saying she was a victim of domestic violence and wanted to have an abortion while she was 12 weeks pregnant. After that, Wydzhinska sent the woman by mail pills to terminate the pregnancy.
“These were pills that I had for personal use and I sent them to her. This is the safest way to terminate a pregnancy at the moment in Poland. I didn’t want her to risk her life and take dangerous steps,” said Vydzhinskaya.
However, the parcel with the pills was received by the woman's partner, who also turned to the police.
As a result, the activist was sentenced to 8 months of community service with a minimum rate of 30 hours per month. The maximum sentence would be 3 years in prison. Vydzhinskaya herself says that she does not feel guilty, does not agree with the verdict and is going to appeal.
According to human rights activists, the trial of the activist is the first such trial in Poland, setting a dangerous precedent.