Center3 min read
Poland's Fugitive Ex-Minister Ziobro Flees Hungary for US After Orbán Ouster
Primary region Europe
Tags Justice · Corruption · Diplomacy
Regions Europe · US
POLITICO Europe · France24 (AFP) · Bloomberg·
Primary region Europe
Tags Justice · Corruption · Diplomacy
Regions Europe · US
Poland's former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, wanted on criminal charges in Poland, fled Hungary for the United States after Viktor Orbán was ousted from power. Ziobro, who faces up to 25 years in Poland on charges of misusing public funds and deploying Pegasus spyware against political opponents, confirmed his arrival in the U.S. in an interview with right-wing broadcaster TV Republika. He reportedly entered on a journalist visa linked to TV Republika, over objections from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. New Hungarian PM Péter Magyar said Hungary would no longer protect people wanted elsewhere. Poland's Justice Minister said Poland will request Ziobro's extradition.
Ziobro's flight to the U.S. creates a diplomatic complication for the Trump administration, which now hosts a fugitive from a NATO ally. The case highlights the intersection of domestic Polish politics, Hungary's regime change, and U.S. immigration policy. Poland's extradition request will test whether the Trump administration prioritizes its relationship with Poland's Tusk government over its ideological affinity with Ziobro's right-wing politics.