The politician said on Monday that claims Hungary has granted Ziobro political asylum have not been confirmed through any official international procedure and do not affect ongoing criminal proceedings against him.
Polish minister calls Hungary’s reported asylum grant to Ziobro unacceptable
In a statement posted on X, Żurek said a Polish court would on 15 January consider a prosecutors’ request for Ziobro’s arrest in connection with 26 alleged offences.
The proceedings have not been suspended, and the case will be decided by an independent court.
Żurek also referred to a final court ruling confirming that the 2022 reinstatement of prosecutor Dariusz Barski had been unlawful because it relied on provisions that were no longer in force.
He said a decision by the prosecutor general on 12 January 2024 was fully legal and definitively settled the status of Poland’s national prosecutor, now held by Dariusz Korneluk.
Żurek noted that a recent meeting between President Karol Nawrocki and Barski had been of a private nature.
Separately, he said prosecutors have filed an indictment against 33 people over alleged fraud involving EU funds at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
The case involves charges of participation in an organised criminal group, fraud, false invoicing and money laundering.
According to prosecutors, nearly 5 million złoty (€1.19 m) was fraudulently obtained, while attempted fraud totalled almost 43 million złoty (€10.2 m) and some of the accused have admitted guilt. Żurek described the case as only the beginning of broader investigations.
On the broader context, Żurek criticised Hungary’s position as unacceptable and recalled that the country has long been under EU scrutiny for rule-of-law violations, including restrictions on civil society, media freedom, academic independence and the judiciary.
Billions of euros in EU funds have been frozen, and the issue has been formally discussed in nine hearings before the EU Council.
The politician questioned why Ziobro chose Hungary as a destination and from there sought to “restore” democracy in Poland, highlighting the contrast between ongoing legal proceedings in Warsaw and the current conflict in Ukraine.
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Source: Polish Radio English Service/X/@w_zurek/@Prok_Regio_Waw