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Ziobro in U.S.
Zbigniew Ziobro, the former Polish justice minister, is in the United States after a trip that included a stop at Newark, with Agenzia Dire saying he arrived in the U.S. on Saturday and had passed through Milano Malpensa with a passport revoked for months.
“ROMA – Zbigniew Ziobro è negli Stati Uniti”
Agenzia Dire reported that Ziobro and his son took an international flight around 11.10 on May 9, and that Matteo Piantedosi told the Italian Chamber that “tutti gli adempimenti relativi alla posizione del cittadino polacco, conseguenti alla consultazione delle banche dati, sono stati puntualmente ed esaustivamente effettuati”.
The same Agenzia Dire account said Ziobro had been in Hungary since the autumn of 2024 after Poland revoked his parliamentary immunity, and it described Viktor Orbán welcoming him as a political refugee.
Anadolu Ajansı reported that a Warsaw court on Thursday cleared the way for Poland to seek Ziobro’s extradition after rejecting his appeal over a prosecutor’s plan to place him in pretrial detention over multiple criminal charges.
Anadolu Ajansı said the ruling is final and removes the last legal obstacle to prosecutors requesting Ziobro’s extradition from the United States, where he is currently staying.
Courts, visas, and denials
In the Italian account, Matteo Piantedosi also said that any potential reports about Ziobro were “non sono ostensibili”, while Agenzia Dire tied the case to allegations that Ziobro was the architect of Poland’s judicial reforms between 2015 and 2023 that the European Union fought for years.
Anadolu Ajansı said prosecutors argue pretrial detention is necessary because Ziobro has failed to appear before investigators and there is a risk he could evade justice while abroad.
Daily News Hungary said Ziobro confirmed in an interview on TV Republika that he had left Hungary for the United States and that he considers American courts independent and is ready to face them if Warsaw requests extradition.
Daily News Hungary also quoted Ziobro saying the charges in Poland were “invented and politically motivated,” and it reported that Polish Minister of Justice and General Prosecutor Waldemar Zurek said he would contact American and Hungarian partners to clarify the legal basis for Ziobro’s travel without valid documents.
Anadolu Ajansı described the allegations as including abuse of office and misuse of public funds, including in connection with the Justice Fund, which prosecutors allege was used for political purposes, while Ziobro denies wrongdoing and calls the investigations politically motivated.
What happens next
Anadolu Ajansı said the Warsaw court decision will not result in Ziobro’s immediate detention but allows Polish authorities to begin formal extradition proceedings, framing the case as a major test of judicial cooperation between Poland and the United States if Warsaw submits a formal request.
“Zbigniew Ziobro, an opposition politician and former Minister of Justice who is wanted by Polish authorities, confirmed in an interview on the conservative Polish news channel TV Republika, Sunday evening, that he had left Hungary for the United States”
Agenzia Dire reported that Poland has opened an extradition procedure and that the United States, “con ogni probabilità, non daranno seguito,” describing a lack of follow-through as likely.
Daily News Hungary said Ziobro told TV Republika that he had used the document issued to him in relation to his asylum status for his trip to the United States, and it reported that Waldemar Zurek would contact partners to clarify what legal basis allowed Ziobro to leave Hungarian territory and travel without valid documents.
Devdiscourse reported that Hungary’s new government revoked the refugee status of Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski, and it said the decision renders their previous travel documents invalid while Polish authorities ramp up efforts for extradition.
Devdiscourse added that Romanowski’s whereabouts remain unclear and that Waldemar Zurek indicated plans to contact US institutions regarding Ziobro’s possible continued stay in the United States.
