Former Polish Justice Minister Flees Hungary for US Amid Extradition Talks
Zbigniew Ziobro, wanted in Poland, reportedly arrived in the US after Hungary’s new PM pledged to extradite officials sheltered under Orbán.
The former Polish Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, who was wanted in Poland on multiple criminal charges, has reportedly fled Hungary, which had previously granted him asylum, and traveled to the United States. This development follows a pledge by Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Medgyar, to extradite Polish officials who had taken refuge during the Viktor Orbán administration.
Flight to the United States Amid Legal Pressure
According to reports on Sunday, May 10, Ziobro arrived in the US on May 9. Polish media outlets confirmed sightings of Ziobro at Newark Liberty Airport, including a photograph taken by another passenger at the airport. Meanwhile, the Polish Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding Ziobro’s departure from the Schengen Area. Authorities noted that Ziobro’s Polish passport had previously been confiscated.
Some reports suggest that Ziobro and his deputy, Marcin Romanowski—also wanted in Poland—may have received refugee travel documents, known as Geneva passports, from Hungary. Polish online portal Onet reported that Ziobro entered the US on a work visa associated with Republika, a right-wing conservative TV channel close to him.
"If Polish authorities want to start extradition procedures—please," Ziobro said, describing US extradition as a "complex procedure."
Republika indirectly confirmed Ziobro’s presence in the US, announcing that they invited him as a "political commentator." According to Gazeta Wyborcza, the visas for Ziobro and his wife were personally approved by then-US President Donald Trump, reflecting close ties between Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) and the pro-Trump MAGA movement.
Political and Legal Implications
Polish Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek stated that Poland will seek clarifications from both the US and Hungary regarding how Ziobro managed to cross borders without valid documents. He reiterated Warsaw’s commitment to holding the former minister accountable in Polish courts.
Ziobro, a prominent member of the right-wing PiS party, is accused by Polish authorities of corruption, embezzlement, and abuse of power. Investigations claim he misappropriated funds from a special victims’ fund, including purchases of the Israeli spyware Pegasus. Prosecutors believe the software was used to surveil political opponents during PiS’s time in power from 2015 to 2023.
Hungary granted asylum to Romanowski in 2024, and nearly a year later, Ziobro sought refuge there as well. During Orbán’s administration, Hungarian officials described the prosecution of these officials as politically motivated.
However, in January 2026, Péter Medgyar, Orbán’s main rival in Hungary’s election, promised to fight against Hungary being a haven for foreign criminals. After winning the April parliamentary elections, Medgyar reiterated his intention to find ways to extradite Polish officials sheltered in Hungary, while acknowledging some may have already fled the country.
This unfolding situation highlights shifting political dynamics in Central Europe, impacting diplomatic relations and cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
