US Responds to Poland Regarding Zbigniew Ziobro’s Visa Status

The US State Department has clarified that it does not comment on individual visa decisions, noting that formal legal matters concerning Zbigniew Ziobro will follow established diplomatic and bilateral procedures.

The Diplomatic Stance

The US government sent an official response to Poland on June 11. A spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the State Department maintains a policy of non-disclosure regarding visa statuses. Legal proceedings will be handled through standard international channels and applicable domestic laws.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski had previously urged President Andrzej Nawrocki to address the issue of the former justice minister’s visa during his visit to Washington. Sikorski stated that the administration should address the alleged abuse of a media-category visa by Ziobro, who is currently a suspect in the Justice Fund corruption investigation.

Presidential and Legal Boundaries

Marcin Przydacz, head of the President’s International Policy Bureau, emphasized that the Ziobro case is not a subject of discussion at the presidential level. He stressed that visa decisions are made independently by the US, and any legal outcome would be determined by the American judiciary, not political pressure.

Przydacz rejected claims that the president would intervene in political disputes, stating that the rule of law dictates that courts—not politics—must remain the final arbiter in such matters.

Background on the Investigation

Zbigniew Ziobro, former Minister of Justice in the PiS government, is under investigation for 26 alleged crimes, including leading an organized criminal group and abuse of power. Following the Polish parliament’s decision to authorize his detention, Ziobro fled to Hungary and subsequently traveled to the United States.

The National Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Ziobro departed Milan for New York on May 9 using a visa for members of foreign media. Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak clarified that the visa was granted based on Ziobro’s role as a political commentator for Telewizja Republika.