On Monday, December 1, Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro was informed his passport will soon be revoked, as investigations into alleged Justice Fund abuses progress.
Ziobro’s Civil Passport to Be Revoked
Minister Marcin Kierwiński was asked on TVN24 whether the former justice minister would lose his civil passport after losing his diplomatic one. He answered in the affirmative, noting that the revocation will be carried out by the Warsaw voivodeship. Kierwiński also clarified that a diplomatic passport is separate from an ordinary one and is withdrawn by decision, whereas the civil passport removal follows an administrative procedure.
Timeline for Revocation
Kierwiński stated that the “issue will unfold over the next several days.” Once a decision is made to revoke Ziobro’s passport, the process will take longer than the diplomatic case. He added that within a few weeks the former minister will have his passport removed.
Diplomatic Passport Unsealed
Piłownik Radosław Sikorski announced that Ziobro’s diplomatic passport has been invalidated. The State Prosecutor’s Office filed 26 charges relating to irregularities in the Justice Fund. Sikorski warned that without a valid ordinary passport Ziobro would not be able to leave the Schengen area.
Justice Fund Probe and Potential Arrest
Ziobro is suspected of establishing and leading a criminal group and of exceeding and neglecting duties concerning the Justice Fund. Consequently, the Sejm lifted his parliamentary immunity and approved a temporary arrest. Prosecutors cited the risk of flight or encouragement of false testimony, and noted that some charges carry up to 25 years’ imprisonment. Ziobro is believed to be in Hungary at present.
