Zbigniew Ziobro receives asylum in Hungary.Image: keystone
01/12/2026, 08:4701/12/2026, 08:47
A minister from the former right-wing conservative PiS government who was wanted by Poland on suspicion of corruption has received political asylum in Hungary.
The Hungarian authorities gave him protectionsaid former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro on X. He became the target of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s personal revenge. «I choose to fight against political banditry and lawlessness. I am resisting the advancing dictatorship.”
In Warsaw it was expected that the fugitive 55-year-old politician would receive protection in Hungary. His deputy Marcin Romanowski, who was also wanted by the public prosecutor, had already received asylum there at the end of 2024.
Marcin Romanowski.Image: keystone
Investigation into the establishment of a criminal organization
Poland’s Attorney General’s Office is investigating Ziobro for 26 criminal offensesincluding suspicion of founding and membership in a criminal organization and suspicion of embezzlement of the equivalent of 35 million euros. According to investigators, he is threatened If convicted, up to 25 years in prison. Ziobro has described the allegations as “breakneck” and sees himself being persecuted for political reasons. The Polish parliament lifted his immunity as a member of parliament in November.
At the center of the allegations against the PiS politician is the “Justice Fund”, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and whose funds are actually intended to benefit crime victims. As justice minister, Ziobro is said to have instructed subordinates to funnel millions of dollars from the fund into projects that he hoped would benefit his party.
Did the PiS spy on political opponents?
The former justice minister is also accused of diverting funds from the fund for crime victims to purchase the Israeli espionage software Pegasus. Political opponents accuse the then PiS government of using Pegasus to spy on political opponents. Pegasus exploits smartphone security vulnerabilities to gain widespread access to data. It is also possible to listen in on conversations.
The right-wing conservative PiS, whose name “Prawo i Sprawiedliwość” translates as law and justice, ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023. During this time, it significantly restructured the justice system, which led, among other things, to a confrontation with the EU Commission. In October 2023, the PiS lost the parliamentary election and has since become the country’s largest opposition party. Since then, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s center-left coalition has been trying to reverse the PiS government’s controversial judicial reforms. (rbu/sda/dpa)