Polish ex-minister facing prosecution granted asylum in Hungary

Zbigniew Ziobro, Poland's former justice minister facing prosecution over alleged abuse of power, announced Monday he has been granted asylum in Hungary.

Ziobro was a key figure in the government led by the conservative Law and Justice or PiS party that ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023.

The administration established control over key judicial institutions through appointments to higher courts and disciplinary measures against judges, according to critics who described these actions as politically motivated.

Prosecutors requested the lifting of Ziobro's parliamentary immunity in October to press charges against him.

They allege Ziobro misused a fund for victims of violence, including for purchase of Israeli Pegasus surveillance software. He faces up to 25 years in prison on 26 charges.

The party of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk alleges PiS used Pegasus to spy on political opponents while in power. Ziobro says he acted lawfully.

In a lengthy post on X Monday, Ziobro wrote he had "decided to accept the asylum granted to me by the government of Hungary due to the political persecution in Poland."

"I have decided to remain abroad until genuine guarantees of the rule of law are restored in Poland," he said. "I believe that instead of acquiescing to being silenced and subjected to a torrent of lies - which I would have no opportunity to refute - I can do more by fighting the mounting lawlessness in Poland."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Monday that Hungarian authorities have granted asylum to "several" individuals who would face political persecution in Poland, according to his ministry. He declined to specify their names.

Budapest has hosted several politicians close to PiS while Polish authorities were seeking them.

In an English-language post on X, Tusk wrote the "former Minister of Justice(!), Mr. Ziobro, who was the mastermind of the political corruption system, has asked the government of Victor Orbán for political asylum." "A logical choice," he added.

There is no mechanism for nationals of EU countries to seek asylum in other EU countries.

Brussels' official position is that each country respects the rights of nationals in the same way, so any citizen should be safe in any EU country, except in very limited circumstances.

Ziobro is considered the architect of judicial reforms that sparked a standoff between Poland and the EU over rule of law concerns.

Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk told Polsat broadcaster Ziobro "will not go unpunished," adding, "No politician is above the law."