Hungary revokes refugee status of Polish politicians Ziobro, Romanowski and spouse

Hungary withdrew the refugee status of former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, his associate Marcin Romanowski and Ziobro’s wife Patrycja Kotecka‑Ziobro, and invalidated their travel documents, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. The revocation follows a Polish criminal investigation into alleged misconduct in the Justice Fund, for which Ziobro is charged with 26 offences, and a European arrest warrant seeking Romanowski’s extradition.

Poland’s Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek has written to Budapest urging the use of legal means to bring the suspects before Polish courts, and the Warsaw District Court upheld a temporary arrest order against Ziobro. The decision also raises questions about the trio’s ability to remain in the United States, where Ziobro has recently travelled.