Key facts
- Hungary has revoked the refugee status of former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski.
- The decision invalidates their travel documents, hindering their ability to leave Hungary.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed the revocation and stated it would assist legal proceedings.
- Ziobro and Romanowski face charges in Poland related to the alleged misuse of funds for political gain.
- The former ministers deny the charges, claiming they are politically motivated.
Hungary's new government has revoked the refugee status and travel documents of former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski, who fled Poland to avoid abuse-of-power charges. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed the decision on X, stating it would aid legal proceedings.
The revocation means Ziobro and Romanowski can no longer use refugee travel documents that facilitated their departure from Hungary. The Polish government had exerted significant pressure on the new Hungarian authorities to strip the pair of "international protection."
Ziobro and Romanowski served in the nationalist Law and Justice government that lost power in 2023. They face charges primarily related to the alleged misuse of funds designated for victims of crime for political purposes. Both deny the accusations, asserting they are victims of a political witch hunt due to their investigation into alleged wrongdoing by individuals close to current Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Ziobro reportedly traveled to the United States on May 9, the same day Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's pro-European administration was sworn in. Reuters reported that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had instructed senior State Department officials to facilitate a visa for him, though Landau and the State Department declined to comment on the matter. Romanowski's current whereabouts are unknown.
Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek stated on X that Poland would contact U.S. institutions to inquire about the residency status of individuals lacking valid travel documents.