Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has reportedly fled Hungary for the United States following charges regarding Justice Fund irregularities, sparking sharp criticism from MP Roman Giertych.
Flight to the United States
Zbigniew Ziobro likely left Hungary on Saturday, May 9, where he had previously been granted political asylum by the country’s then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The former Justice Minister’s flight is linked to charges brought by Polish prosecutors regarding irregularities within the Justice Fund.
On Sunday, May 10, TV Republika reported that Ziobro is now in the United States. This follows earlier announcements by the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, who had promised the extradition of the former PiS government minister from Hungary.
European Arrest Warrant Delays
A request for a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against Zbigniew Ziobro was submitted to the Warsaw District Court on February 10, 2026. National prosecutor spokesman Przemysław Nowak explained on X that without an issued EAW, there is no possibility of detaining or extraditing a suspect from an EU member state.
Nowak stated that the request remained unprocessed despite the prosecutor urging the court on April 13 to recognize the application to prevent further flight. He added that the judge who failed to process the request should face disciplinary proceedings, arguing that judicial independence does not grant the right to consciously prolong proceedings.
Political Reactions and US Visa
MP Roman Giertych described Ziobro’s decision as “cowardice” and “contempt for law,” stating on X that it is a sign Ziobro knows he robbed his citizens and fears accountability. Giertych warned that granting asylum to Ziobro in the United States would be a “serious problem” for Polish-American relations.
According to “Wyborcza,” Zbigniew Ziobro and his wife, Patrycja Kotecka, were able to enter the USA because Ziobro received a US visa. The decision was reportedly made personally by President Donald Trump, despite opposition from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose.
Giertych’s Legal Comparison
Giertych rejected comparisons between his own 2020 situation—when he was detained in connection with the Polnord case—and Ziobro’s current flight. He noted that he complied with travel bans until the court lifted them and was never arrested or subject to a European Arrest Warrant.
The politician emphasized that courts consistently denied the prosecution’s requests in his case due to a lack of probable evidence of a crime. He concluded that comparing his situation to Ziobro’s is as simplistic as comparing a guilty person to an innocent one.
