The Warsaw District Court in Poland approved former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski’s request for guarantees of safe return to the country. Romanowski left Poland in December 2024 and is likely in Tiraspol, the capital of Moldova’s Transnistrian region, which is de facto controlled by Russia.
As Notes from Poland reports, Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office opposed the decision and plans to appeal it. Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek said that the ruling was issued by a judge whose appointment status raises legal doubts, and also pointed to a possible breach of procedural rules.
Terms of the guarantees
Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, said that once the decision enters into force, his client will not be able to be detained or remanded in custody in Poland. According to him, the European Arrest Warrant effective in other EU countries will also cease to be valid.
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In explaining the decision, Judge Konrad Mielczarek stated that Romanowski had undertaken to return to Poland voluntarily. The terms provide for appearing before the court and prosecutor’s office at a specified time and place, not leaving his declared place of residence, and not interfering with the criminal proceedings.
The prosecutor’s office position
The prosecutor’s office said it has no confirmation that Romanowski is specifically in Tiraspol. It also referred to the fact that the suspect had previously evaded the proceedings, left Poland and later Hungary, and admitted using travel documents issued in another person’s name.
Romanowski was deputy justice minister in the government of the Law and Justice party in 2019–2023. After the change of government, prosecutors sought to bring charges against him over 11 alleged crimes, including participation in an organized criminal group. Romanowski denies wrongdoing and calls the prosecution political revenge by the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
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