Polish ex‑justice minister Ziobro’s refugee status revoked by Hungary amid arrest and extradition push

The Hungarian government announced that it has withdrawn the refugee status and invalidated the travel documents of former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, his wife Patrycja Kotecka‑Ziobro, and former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski. The decision was confirmed by Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski on X. The revocation follows the election of Hungary’s new prime minister, Peter Magyar, who pledged to end the political asylum granted by the previous Viktor Orbán administration.

In Poland, the Warsaw District Court upheld a temporary arrest order against Ziobro in the Justice Fund corruption probe, a ruling confirmed by the Warsaw Regional Court on 1 July. Ziobro, who has been in the United States since May, says the proceedings are politically motivated. Polish prosecutors plan to request his extradition from the United States now that his Hungarian protection has been removed, arguing that the loss of asylum removes a key defence against extradition. The case involves 26 alleged offences, including abuse of office and embezzlement of funds intended for crime‑victim assistance.

The revocation may affect Ziobro’s legal standing in the United States, though U.S. authorities have not yet indicated whether they will act on an extradition request. Poland’s justice minister Waldemar Żurek has said a formal request will be filed as soon as possible.