During his visit to Krakow, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro likely departed for the United States from an EU country other than Hungary.
Magyar’s Claims Regarding Ziobro’s Departure
On Tuesday, during a press conference in Krakow, Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced that the Hungarian government learned about Zbigniew Ziobro’s trip to the United States through media reports. According to official information, the former minister did not cross the Hungarian border to reach the US.
Magyar suggested that Ziobro most likely left Hungary and traveled to the United States from the territory of another European Union member state. He noted that the departure of Ziobro and MP Marcin Romanowski occurred before his own inauguration as head of government on May 9.
International Protection and Legal Charges
Zbigniew Ziobro previously confirmed on May 10 that he was in the United States, asserting that he had not fled Poland and was traveling on documents granted under international protection received in Hungary. Both Ziobro and Romanowski were granted this status under the administration of Viktor Orban.
The Polish National Prosecutor’s Office has formulated charges against both individuals regarding irregularities in the Justice Fund. While the Warsaw court issued a new European Arrest Warrant for Romanowski in mid-February, the request concerning Ziobro remains under judicial consideration. Magyar previously stated in February that if his party won the elections, he would oversee the extradition of the two PiS politicians if they remained in Hungary.
Justice Fund Allegations
Prosecutors allege that during his tenure, Ziobro directed an organized criminal group and misused his position. The charges involve 26 counts, including issuing orders to subordinates to violate the law to secure grants for specific entities and interfering in tender processes to allow ineligible entities to receive funds.
In late 2025, after the Sejm consented to his detention and arrest, it was discovered that Ziobro was no longer in Poland. By early 2026, it was confirmed that the former Justice Minister and Prosecutor General had obtained international protection in Hungary.
