Poland seeks extradition of ex-minister Zbigniew Ziobro from U.S.

Poland's justice system is seeking the extradition of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who fled the country and is now in the United States. The formal request was made by the Polish state prosecutor to the U.S. Department of State, citing 26 alleged offenses, including embezzlement of public funds.

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At my age, one does not make plans, except for the immediate future, but I do not exclude coming to Pantelleria for a period of rest.

Ziobro and his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, who also fled and sought asylum in Hungary, are accused of mismanaging a fund intended to support crime victims. Instead, the money was allegedly used for political campaigns and organizations linked to their party, "Sovereign Poland." This party was in government with the national-populist PiS party from 2015 until their electoral defeat in 2023.

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The minor islands of our country are all of great importance for its balance and its future and require constant care and protection, each with its own specific conditions and characteristics.

The situation became politically sensitive when Romanowski fled to Hungary in late 2024 and received asylum from then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Ziobro followed in early 2026. However, after Orbán's electoral defeat, their asylum status was revoked. Ziobro reportedly left Hungary in May 2026, heading to the U.S., where he has been working as a correspondent for a Polish television channel. Romanowski's whereabouts are currently unknown.

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In Pantelleria there is an intertwining of nature and history, a long history that has seen all the protagonists of the Mediterranean seek Pantelleria.

Complicating Ziobro's flight from Hungary and subsequent entry into the U.S. was the alleged intervention of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Ziobro, whose Polish passport was suspended, reportedly obtained a "Blue Pass" from the outgoing Hungarian government before traveling to the U.S. via Milan. The details surrounding his entry into the U.S. remain a point of contention.

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It is a heritage that must be valued not as if it were a photograph, but for the future.