Poland seeks extradition of former Justice minister over alleged fund misuse

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Poland on Monday formally requested the extradition of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro from the United States over allegations of misusing funds intended for crime victims.

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The public prosecutor’s office said Ziobro faces 26 charges, most of them related to claims that money from a victims’ support fund was used for political purposes.

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Authorities are seeking to bring Ziobro to trial over the allegations.

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He was a leading figure in judicial reforms carried out under the former conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) government between 2015 and 2023, which the European Union criticised for undermining judicial independence.

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Ziobro has rejected the accusations, saying he is being targeted in a politically driven case by Poland’s pro-EU governing coalition.

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“A request for pre-trial detention and extradition of Ziobro was transmitted through diplomatic channels to the competent authorities of the United States of America,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

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Ziobro and his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, were granted asylum in Hungary under the previous nationalist government.

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Reports said Ziobro fled to the United States on May 9, the same day Hungary’s new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who had promised to withdraw their refugee status, took office.

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It was also reported that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau directed senior officials to facilitate and approve a visa for Ziobro.

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Romanowski’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

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