He did not have valid documents: the United States welcomes a former Polish minister on the run, Poland fumes.

Former Polish Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro is now in the United States. He was sought by the justice system in his home country and confirmed his whereabouts in the US during an interview with the conservative Polish television channel Republika.

Ziobro had sought refuge in Hungary in recent months but was forced to flee after the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the elections last month. Now in the US, Ziobro potentially faces up to 25 years in prison for allegedly misusing funds meant for victims of crimes to acquire the spyware software Pegasus for monitoring political opponents.

Having served as Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General in the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government from 2015 to 2023, Ziobro denies the accusations against him and accuses the current centrist government of conducting a witch hunt against conservatives.

The Polish government intends to contact both the United States and Hungary to seek clarification on the legal basis that allowed Ziobro to enter the US without valid documents.

Poland has revoked Ziobro’s travel documents, including his Polish and diplomatic passports, and is determined to ensure that Ziobro and his associate Marcin Romanowski face accountability in Polish courts. Poland has indicated its intention to request Ziobro’s extradition if his presence in the US is confirmed.

Zbigniew Ziobro is known for implementing controversial judicial reforms that sparked tensions between Poland and the European Commission, with the latter criticizing the reforms for undermining the rule of law and the balance of powers.

When asked about the possibility of extradition, Ziobro expressed willingness to appear before any court, emphasizing the independence of the American legal system. He urged authorities to initiate the extradition process if they so desire, acknowledging the rigorous nature of extradition proceedings in US courts.