Extradition Request Filed for Ziobro from the US: Prosecutor’s Statement and Tusk’s Remarks

Polish prosecutors have officially filed an extradition request with the United States for former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro amid an ongoing investigation into the Justice Fund irregularities.

Extradition Request and Allegations

The request was prepared in connection with an investigation into irregularities in the expenditure of funds from the Justice Fund during the tenure of Zbigniew Ziobro as Minister of Justice. The former minister faces formal charges in the case, with prosecutors stating that the irregularities led to actions against the public interest of the State Treasury and private interests by restricting eligible entities’ access to fund grants.

Ziobro is suspected of committing 26 offenses, including founding and directing an organized criminal group, exceeding powers and failing to perform official duties, manually steering competitions, and allowing unauthorized persons to conclude contracts. The former minister maintains that the charges are baseless, fabricated, and constitute a political revenge.

Scope of the Extradition Request

Prosecutors announced that the extradition request covers only 19 of the 26 acts for which Ziobro is suspected. Prosecutor General’s spokesperson, Anna Adamiak, indicated that this scope stems from a July ruling by the Warsaw Regional Court maintaining a temporary arrest decision, where the court found the probability of committing seven specific acts lower than the rest.

These excluded acts relate to improper supervision over individuals authorized to make decisions within the Justice Fund. Adamiak added that for one act, prosecutors modified the description without altering its legal qualification or identity.

Extradition Procedure and US Review

Adamiak detailed that the extradition request will be transmitted through diplomatic channels to the US Department of Justice to assess formal compliance with the Polish-US extradition treaty. If successful, the request goes to a federal court to determine the legal admissibility of surrendering Ziobro to Poland.

A positive court decision goes to the secretary of state for a final determination, whereas a negative decision is legally binding and requires the secretary to refuse extradition. Depending on the complexity of the case, the procedure can take anywhere from several to dozens of months.

Ziobro’s Stay in the United States and Hungarian Context

Zbigniew Ziobro has been staying in the United States since May of this year, having previously resided in Hungary where he received international protection under Viktor Orbán’s government before a change in power. In early July, Hungary revoked Ziobro’s refugee status and invalidated travel documents for him, his wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, and former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski.

Reactions from Prime Minister Tusk and Minister Żurek

When asked about the real chances of extradition during a conference in Głuchołazach, Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked that since Ziobro is reportedly hiding in the US, it is a question for another Donald. Tusk emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring politicians facing serious allegations stand trial in Poland, noting that success depends on cooperation with foreign governments.

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek reacted to the news by stating that the mills of justice grind on.