Zbigniew Stonoga (pronounced [ˈzbiɡɲɛf stɔˈnɔɡa]; born 17 October 1974 in Ozimek)[1] is a Polish entrepreneur, businessman, activist and philanthropist who gained notoriety as a whistleblower for the publication of the investigation files concerning the Polish bugging scandal (2014–2015), known as Waitergate. Founder of the short-lived Stonoga Party Poland (also known in English as The Centipede Party, since Stonoga translates as "centipede").[2] Founder of Gazeta Stonoga.
Zbigniew Stonoga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 October 1974 |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Known for | Political activism, whistleblowing, philanthropy, videoblogging |
| Political party | KNP (2014) SPP (2015) |
| Opponents |
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| Criminal charge | Fraud |
Biography edit
Academic background edit
After graduating from an electrotechnical vocational school, he started higher education which he did not complete.
Political career edit
In 2015 he ran in Polish parliamentary elections in which his party, Stonoga Party Poland, scored 0.4% (40 000 voters). After the results were announced, furious Stonoga uploaded a video to the internet in which he expressed his frustration with those who did not vote for him or for the Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic - Liberty and Hope.[3]
His language is vulgar and direct, attracting the attention of young audiences.[4][5]
His recordings of private conversations between Polish politicians have led to a few resignations.[6]
Lawsuits edit
In the 2000s Stonoga was named in a total of 89 criminal lawsuits.
In 2004 he was sentenced to 3.5 years' imprisonment for financial irregularities. In 2005 his sentence was quashed.[7]
By 2015, he was named in 61 criminal cases related mostly to financial fraud and insulting public servants; he was sentenced to a year in prison for fraud on a private car sale.[8]
On May 9, 2017, Stonoga was imprisoned at the Warszawa-Bialoleka correctional center for one year on charges of committing a large-scale financial fraud; the sentence was later shortened by 3 weeks.[9][10][11]
References edit
- ^ "Już się powygłupiałem, pokląłem. Tak wojuje Zbigniew Stonoga. SYLWETKA". 9 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ ""Stonoga Partia Polska. Rejestracja nowej formacji politycznej może nastąpić lada dzień"". 10 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "Zbigniew Stonoga obraża Polaków: "WAS POLACZKI TYLKO DO AUSCHWITZ WYPROWADZIĆ"". YouTube. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Stonoga znowu szokuje. Wulgarnie wyzywa polityków, w tym prezydenta (WIDEO)". Kontrrewolucja.net (in Polish). 6 April 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ ""Głupie polaczki, was tylko do Auschwitz zaprowadzać" – sfrustrowany Stonoga o porażce wyborczej. W kolejnym nagraniu przeprosił za słowa". Pch24.pl (in Polish). 27 October 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ "Afera podsłuchowa: Zbigniew Stonoga i dymisje ministrów". spyshop.pl (in Polish). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Już się powygłupiałem, pokląłem. Tak wojuje Zbigniew Stonoga. SYLWETKA" (in Polish). 9 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "Stonoga raczej do więzienia niż do Sejmu" (in Polish).
- ^ "Zbigniew Stonoga trafił do więzienia. Spędzi tam niecały rok". Wprost (in Polish). 9 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ Kłoszewski, oprac Jakub (9 May 2017). "Zbigniew Stonoga za kratkami. Spędzi tam dłuższy czas". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ Redakcja (27 September 2019). "Zbigniew Stonoga wyszedł z więzienia i prosi o wpłatę 200 tys. zł. Na wolności opublikował wideo [27. 9. 2019]". Dziennik Zachodni (in Polish). Retrieved 30 December 2019.
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