Polish court upholds arrest warrant for ex-minister Romanowski

A Polish court has refused to revoke a European Arrest Warrant (ENA) for former Deputy Minister Marcin Romanowski, who is facing charges in an investigation into alleged irregularities within the Fundusz Sprawiedliwości (Justice Fund).

Romanowski, a member of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, was reportedly granted protection by Hungary's former government under Viktor Orban. An ENA has been in effect against him since February. Following Hungary's recent elections, the new Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that Hungary would not serve as a haven for international fugitives, though Romanowski's current whereabouts remain unclear.

Polish media reported that Romanowski left his Budapest apartment in late May and was subsequently seen in Serbia and Croatia. His defense team had requested the ENA's revocation, arguing that if he is in Serbia, where the warrant is not active, it should be lifted. However, the District Court in Warsaw ruled on July 10 not to revoke the warrant.

Meanwhile, Polish prosecutors are also pursuing an ENA against former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. The District Court in Warsaw upheld a decision for Ziobro's temporary arrest on July 1, dismissing his defense's appeals. The court is expected to take further procedural steps regarding the ENA against Ziobro soon.