Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his former deputy Marcin Romanowski have reportedly fled Hungary to the United States, according to Polish media reports. The two Law and Justice (PiS) politicians received political asylum under former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s government after criminal investigations had been launched against them by the Tusk administration in Poland.
According to reports by Polish outlets wPolsce24 and wPolityce.pl, the two left Hungary a day or two apart, with Ziobro reportedly arriving in the United States on 10 May, while Romanowski joined his former superior on 12 May, just days after the inauguration of Prime Minister Péter Magyar on 9 May.
The timing of their departure is unlikely to be coincidental. Donald Tusk’s government is among the closest allies of Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party, and Polish officials had already openly expressed hope that Budapest would ‘stop sheltering’ the two politicians and cooperate with extradition efforts following Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat on 12 April.
Ziobro and Romanowski became primary targets of the Tusk government’s crackdown against figures associated with the former PiS administration after his party alliance won the parliamentary election in October 2023. Prosecutors accuse Ziobro of abuse of power, misuse of public funds, involvement in what they describe as an organized criminal structure, and illegal surveillance of political opponents and journalists. Romanowski faces allegations related to the misuse of public funds in the same broader case.
Both politicians reject the accusations and argue that they are victims of politically motivated persecution by the Tusk government.
Romanowski received asylum in Hungary in December 2024, while Ziobro reportedly followed him to Budapest in January 2026. The Orbán government argued at the time that neither politician could expect a fair trial in Poland under the current administration and therefore considered them political refugees.
The decision triggered immediate tensions between Warsaw and Budapest, further damaging already deteriorating Polish–Hungarian relations under the Tusk government. Following Romanowski’s asylum, the Polish government placed the Hungarian ambassador to Warsaw under a so-called diplomatic boycott, advising state institutions not to attend events where the ambassador might be present.
After Péter Magyar’s electoral victory, Polish–Hungarian relations were widely expected to improve, particularly after the incoming Hungarian prime minister announced that his first official foreign visit would be to Warsaw. Speaking during his first international press conference after the election, Magyar said that Ziobro and Romanowski ‘should not buy any furniture in Hungary because they are not staying long.’ ‘Hungary will not be asylum for international criminals,’ he added.
However, the escape of Ziobro and Romanowski could overshadow that rapprochement, as Polish authorities are already demanding explanations from both Hungary and the United States regarding how the two were able to leave Hungary and enter the US despite reported issues surrounding their travel documents and legal status.
According to Polish prosecutors, Ziobro ‘certainly did not enter the United States under general rules,’ suggesting that authorities suspect special arrangements or exceptional documentation may have been used. Warsaw had also reportedly warned Washington not to assist Ziobro before his departure.
The US embassy in Warsaw and the Hungarian foreign ministry reportedly declined to comment when asked by Reuters.
Related articles: