WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A former Polish justice minister facing potential prosecution says he has been granted asylum in Hungary.
Zbigniew Ziobro, who served in the previous government led by the nationalist Law and Justice party, is being investigated in Poland over allegations of abuse of power. In October, prosecutors sought to lift his parliamentary immunity to press charges, including claims that he misused a government fund intended for victims of crime. Authorities allege part of the fund was used to purchase Pegasus surveillance software.
Ziobro has denied wrongdoing, saying he acted within the law. The current government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has stated that the software was used to surveil political opponents while Law and Justice was in power.
On Monday, Ziobro announced in a post on social media platform X that he had accepted asylum in Hungary, citing what he described as “political persecution” in Poland. He added, “I have decided to remain abroad until genuine guarantees of the rule of law are restored in Poland.”
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed that Hungarian authorities had granted asylum to “several” individuals facing political persecution in Poland but did not name them. Hungary’s government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has previously hosted politicians aligned with Poland’s former ruling party.
Ziobro served as justice minister from 2015 to 2023, during which the Law and Justice government made sweeping changes to the judiciary, drawing criticism from domestic and international observers.
Tusk’s coalition, which took office over two years ago, has pledged to reverse those reforms but has faced obstacles from Poland’s presidency, which remains aligned with Law and Justice.
