Michnik clears PM, but claims cover-up is being attempted in Rywin case

Gazeta Wyborcza editor Adam Michnik told the Parliamentary Commission investigating the Rywin case on Saturday that a cover-up is being attempted over the alleged incident to solicit a $17.5 million bribe from media group Agora. Michnik told the Deputies that he did not believe that the Prime Minister had been behind the alleged bribery attempt by Lew Rywin. Michnik was the first witness called by the Inquiry, set up to investigate his paper 's claims that Rywin sought the pay-off in return for changes to a media bill that Agora is fighting. Michnik criticized state prosecutors leading the criminal investigation who hauled him in for a second round of questioning on Friday in the presence of Rywin's lawyers. "My interview was a simulation which added nothing to what is already known," he said. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Feb 8-9, pp.1, 5; Rzeczpospolita, Feb. 8-9, pp. A1, A3) J.K.