Hungary grants asylum to Polish ex-justice minister accused of fraud
Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has confirmed that he has been granted political asylum by Hungary, a move that shields him from 26 criminal charges in Poland, including allegations that he led an organised crime group that defrauded millions in public funds.
Polish prosecutors accuse Ziobro, who served as justice minister and prosecutor general under the socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government from 2015 to 2023, of leading an organised crime group that defrauded over PLN 143 million (EUR 33 mln) from a Ministry of Justice fund intended to support victims of crime. However, prosecutors have been unable to formally present the charges, as Ziobro fled to Hungary, following in the footsteps of his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, who is accused of participating in the same criminal group.
On Monday, Ziobro's lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, wrote on X that the Hungarian government granted his client political asylum due to actions by Polish prosecutors that he described as "bearing the hallmarks of politically motivated repression."
In a separate post on X, Ziobro wrote that he would remain abroad "until real guarantees of the rule of law are restored in Poland." He claimed he was targeted because, as prosecutor general, he launched numerous investigations into alleged corruption by the previous ruling government led by current Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Ziobro also said he had sought international protection for his wife.
Commenting on the decision, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the press that asylum had been granted to several individuals whom Hungary believes "would be at risk of political persecution in Poland." He claimed that "democracy and the rule of law in Poland are in crisis and under threat."
The statement follows recent news reports that Budapest had granted asylum to two Polish citizens, information later confirmed by the Hungarian foreign ministry. However, Maciej Wewior, the Polish foreign ministry spokesman, reported that Warsaw has yet to receive any official notification from the Hungarian authorities. (PAP)
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