Moldova: No Information on Romanowski Amid Transnistria Safe-Conduct Request

Warsaw court receives a safe-conduct request from former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski, mailed from the breakaway region of Transnistria, prompting international diplomatic coordination.

Safe-Conduct Request from Transnistria

Judge Anna Ptaszek, press secretary for criminal cases at the Regional Court in Warsaw, announced that the court received an application for a safe-conduct letter from former Deputy Justice Minister and PiS MP Marcin Romanowski. She added that the document and envelope indicate the shipment was mailed from Tiraspol in the Transnistria region.

Polish Minister Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak stated on Polskie Radio Jedynka that European arrest warrant standards do not operate in Transnistria due to its separatist nature. He noted that Polish services, the prosecutor’s office, and the police are turning to various partner services, including Moldovan authorities, because Transnistria is formally part of Moldova.

Moldovan Control and Regional Status

Moldovan authorities told PAP that the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova remains outside the effective control of constitutional authorities due to the lack of a final settlement for the Transnistrian conflict. Unrecognized internationally, Transnistria has maintained de facto independence since the fall of the USSR and is heavily tied to Russia militarily, politically, and economically.

Travel and Entry Procedures

Dr. Piotr Oleksy from the Central European Institute and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań noted that entering Transnistria poses no problem for European Union citizens. He explained that visitors can easily cross from Moldova through several checkpoints, and buses to Tiraspol depart from the Moldovan capital of Chisinau every 40 minutes.

Oleksy explained that passport control takes place at the border between Transnistria and Moldova, but short stays of a few days do not require registration for EU citizens. Longer stays require registration at a Ministry of Internal Affairs office or a police station in the unrecognized region, though no permission from Russian authorities is needed to enter.

Romanowski’s Charges and Location

National Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak confirmed that the prosecution received a copy of the application from the court, noting it was personally signed by Romanowski with a specific Tiraspol address. The safe-conduct document allows a suspect or accused person to remain free pending trial, provided they appear when summoned and do not leave the country or obstruct proceedings without court permission.

Romanowski faces charges in an investigation concerning irregularities in the Justice Fund, including participation in an organized criminal group and rigging competitions for fund grants. Prosecutors allege these crimes involved instructing subordinate employees on which entities should win grants from the Justice Fund.