A 33-year-old man called emergency services demanding action against Zbigniew Ziobro, refused to hang up, and was fined by police.
Emergency Line Incident
On Friday, February 6, a 33-year-old man called emergency number 112 demanding intervention regarding Zbigniew Ziobro. After making his request, he refused to end the call despite clear instructions from the operator. The employee explained that 112 is only for urgent life-threatening situations and appealed not to block the line.
Police officers were dispatched to the man’s location. When questioned, he stated he would continue calling the emergency number. As a result, police issued him a fine, which he refused to accept, so the case will go to court. Police emphasized that blocking emergency lines can delay assistance for those in genuine need.
Ziobro’s Arrest Warrant
On Friday, February 6, the prosecutor’s office issued an arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. The day before, a court had approved a three-month temporary detention for the politician. The prosecutor emphasized that Ziobro is hiding from justice and deliberately avoiding participating in procedural activities.
Ziobro has not left Budapest, Hungary for several weeks. He lives in a rented apartment somewhere on the hills of Buda and often visits his former deputy and co-accused in the same case, Marcin Romanowski, who also lives in Buda near the Danube. A Polish Radio correspondent in Budapest tried to contact Ziobro but found his phone off and unanswered.
Political Response
Ziobro’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, called the arrest warrant “a joke and clear confirmation of the political engagement of the Prosecutor’s Office.” He stated that the warrant is being issued for someone hiding in Poland and is meant to spread the image of the wanted person to facilitate finding him.
The head of Hungarian opposition Peter Magyar stated that if his opposition party wins power in Hungary, it “will not be a dumping ground for wanted criminals.” Hungarian elections are scheduled for April 12. Currently, Hungary under Viktor Orban appears unwilling to extradite Ziobro, similar to how they handled Romanowski’s case, who received political asylum almost a year earlier.
Legal Status and Future
Ziobro faces 26 charges related to financial irregularities with the Justice Fund, which could potentially lead to 25 years in prison. He received political asylum in Hungary, though Hungarian media comments have been critical of the politician.
Political analysts suggest that Ziobro’s asylum status in Hungary depends on the continuation of Orban’s power. If the opposition wins elections, Ziobro’s status as a political refugee could be in jeopardy, as Hungary would no longer be a safe haven for him.
