Polish law is weird (like all law systems). If you insult Putin in Poland, you can go to prison for up to three years. That's because there's a law on insulting heads of foreign states. Apparently it was introduced to prevent insulting John Paul II, a pope, though I can't find any reliable sources for that at the moment.
@szescstopni Apparently, I've been mistaken. According to https://wielkahistoria.pl/zniewazenie-glowy-panstwa-polski-sad-wyslal-zyda-za-kraty-bo-skrytykowal-adolfa-hitlera/, the Penal Code from 1932 had a rule about insulting the head of foreign state (article 111).
In many cases, proving your statement is fact, is a full defence against claims of libel or slander.
Does the same go for "insulting"?
@EricLawton @szescstopni I am quite curious how one could prove that someone's mother was a hamster, and father smelt of elderberries :D
@EricLawton No. As far as I know, in Polish law stating an ugly truth is not always an acceptable defence when charged with insulting. I might be wrong :)
@szescstopni That regulation is much older. It has been established in the communist age. I guess, with the intention of discouraging people from insulting leaders of Soviet Union.