Rywin tells Committee he is innocent and refuses to answer questions

"I declare that I did not work for any group and did not solicit any bribe," Rywin said, testifying for the first time before the Parliamentary Investigating Committee. He read out a statement stating his innocence, but declined to answer questions on the grounds they might be self-incriminating. Rywin said Agora had "manipulated" a taped upon which Gazeta Wyborcza published transcript of a meeting with Gazeta's editor Adam Michnik where the alleged bribe offer took place. "I am a victim of a massive attack by Gazeta Wyborcza, Agora and its allies," he said. Rywin added that Agora's directors initiated contacts with him and tried to gain his assistance in lobbying on the media bill, which would have barred Agora from buying national television interests. "I did not go to Agora with any lobbying proposal," he said. Michnik earlier testified that Miller himself was not behind the alleged affair, and Rywin echoed this on Saturday. (Reuters) A.Z.