The Hungarian asylum authority has begun a formal review process for EU citizens granted refugee status on political grounds, requiring all concerned parties to appear in person to justify their claims.
Review of Political Refugee Status
The Ministry announced that the verification process began in May. The Hungarian asylum office is currently re-evaluating refugee statuses previously granted to European Union citizens for political reasons.
Affected individuals have been formally notified of the proceedings and instructed to appear in person before the authorities. Those who attend will have the opportunity to present arguments and evidence supporting the maintenance of their status, while absent individuals will have decisions made based on existing documentation.
Decisions will be communicated directly to those involved. If an individual’s whereabouts are unknown, notifications may be published through official public channels in accordance with Hungarian law. The ministry’s statement did not disclose specific names or examples.
Case of Ziobro and Romanowski
The previous Hungarian administration, led by Viktor Orbán, granted international protection to several politicians wanted in their home countries, including former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski.
Ziobro resided in Budapest from November 2025, while Romanowski stayed there from December 2024. The Polish National Prosecutor’s Office has leveled charges against both regarding irregularities in the Justice Fund. Ziobro left Hungary following Orbán’s defeat in parliamentary elections and is currently in the United States. Romanowski’s current whereabouts are unclear; he left his Budapest residence in late May and was subsequently reported in Serbia and Croatia.
Government Stance on Foreign Fugitives
Prior to the elections, current Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that his government would not provide shelter or asylum to foreign criminals. He has since reiterated that Hungary will not serve as a dumping ground for individuals wanted by the international community.
Status of Arrest Warrants
In February, a Warsaw court reissued a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for Romanowski after a previous warrant from December 2024 was revoked by the Orbán government. A second request was submitted and subsequently approved by the District Court in Warsaw.
Also in February, the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów authorized the arrest of Zbigniew Ziobro. A wanted notice was issued, and an application for an EAW was filed but has not yet been processed. Simultaneously, appellate proceedings concerning Ziobro’s temporary arrest are scheduled for July 1, 3, and 6.
