On Monday, Polish officials submitted a formal request to the United States seeking the extradition of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. Prosecutors have leveled 26 charges against him, primarily centering on the alleged misappropriation of a fund designated for crime victims to support political goals.
Ziobro served as a primary architect of controversial judicial reforms during the Law and Justice Party’s tenure from 2015 to 2023, a period marked by significant friction with the European Union regarding judicial independence. Denying any wrongdoing, Ziobro contends that the current pro-EU administration is pursuing a political vendetta against him.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the demand for pre-trial detention and extradition was sent via standard diplomatic channels. Media reports indicate that Ziobro departed for the U.S. on May 9, coinciding with leadership changes in Hungary, where he had previously held asylum. While accounts suggest U.S. officials may have assisted with his visa entry, the current location of his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, is not known.
