Poljski ex-minister flees to US, Poland seeks explanation from Hungary and Washington

Polish authorities expect the United States to extradite former Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, who is being investigated in Poland for suspected abuse of power and organized crime. Ziobro fled to the U.S. from Hungary using documents obtained under political asylum.

Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that Warsaw expects cooperation from ‘friendly countries’ in apprehending and extraditing the former minister, who was a key figure in the previous nationalist-conservative government.

Ziobro publicly confirmed his presence in the U.S. for the first time on Sunday. In an interview with right-wing Polish TV channel Republika, he claimed to have arrived at ‘the strongest democracy in the world.’

Polish prosecutors state that Ziobro left Hungary on the same day as the new Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magdics took office, who previously announced that Budapest would no longer provide asylum to individuals accused of crimes by other countries. Polish investigators are trying to determine how Ziobro managed to leave Hungary and enter the U.S., given that he had lost his Polish and diplomatic passports in previous years.

Ziobro reportedly lacks a passport and therefore must have entered the U.S. without following standard procedures, according to a spokesperson for the Polish prosecution office Pšemislav Novak. The spokesperson added that ‘all signs point to him trying to avoid Poland’s judicial system.’

Facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, Ziobro denies all charges and claims they are politically motivated by the center-left government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Warsaw is requesting explanations from Washington and Budapest. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will formally request clarification from both countries regarding how Zbigniew Ziobro left Hungarian territory and obtained the right to enter the U.S., using specific documents.