Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek criticizes Hungary for granting asylum to former Polish officials, warning it undermines the European Arrest Warrant.
Asylum Instead of Extradition
In an interview with Politico, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek sharply criticized Viktor Orbán’s government decision to grant asylum to Zbigniew Ziobro, former Minister of Justice in the PiS government. Ziobro is subject to proceedings in Poland, including alleged misuse of public funds and using the Pegasus system against political opponents.
According to investigators, Zbigniew Ziobro is alleged to have led a criminal group. After losing his parliamentary immunity in November 2025, he fled to Hungary. Prosecutors want to charge him with 26 counts.
This Strikes at the European Arrest Warrant
According to Żurek, the Hungarian decision circumvents the legal mechanisms of the European Union. He emphasized that this is a dangerous precedent for the entire European Union, warning that if accepted, everyone will start citing it, turning the justice system into a political tool.
The minister pointed out that the asylum decision is political, not judicial, which in practice circumvents the principles of the European Arrest Warrant, based on mutual trust between member states.
Legal Loophole
The Ziobro case is not the first of its kind. In 2024, Hungary granted asylum to Marcin Romanowski, former Deputy Minister of Justice and Ziobro’s deputy. Despite an arrest warrant, he was not extradited to Poland.
At the end of December, Budapest further complicated matters for Poland by changing the law in such a way that Hungarian courts could not apply the European Arrest Warrant to persons who had been granted asylum.
Political Protection for Allies
Hungarian authorities claim that by granting asylum to Polish politicians, they are protecting them from political persecution. The head of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of a crisis of democracy and the rule of law in Poland.
Ziobro himself, in a statement published from Budapest, stated that he would remain abroad until real guarantees of the rule of law are restored in Poland.
Appeal to the European Commission
Waldemar Żurek believes the matter requires a decisive reaction from Brussels. In his opinion, the European Commission should refer Hungary to the European Court of Justice.
He emphasized that only a binding ruling can prevent governments from using asylum as a shield from criminal liability. The European Commission has not yet taken action, with its spokesperson merely reminding that Poland does not meet the criteria for granting asylum to EU citizens.
Waiting Can Be Fatal
Żurek warns that delaying a reaction could have serious consequences for democracy throughout Europe. He points to Poland’s experiences after years of disputes over the rule of law during the PiS government, the effects of which are still felt today.
If EU institutions react too slowly, this disease could become fatal for democracy, the minister concluded.
