Poland's wanted ex-minister confirms he fled to US from Hungary

Source: France24/AFP

Issued on: 10/05/2026 - 21:07 Modified: 10/05/2026 - 22:35



"I am in the United States," Ziobro told right-wing broadcaster Republika. "I arrived yesterday, and this is my third time traveling around the country," he added. Ziobro, who received asylum from right-wing ally Viktor Orban's government last year, faces up to 25 years in prison in Poland if convicted of the charges laid against him.

They include abuse of power, leading an organised criminal enterprise and using funds meant for crime victims to buy Israeli Pegasus spyware, allegedly to monitor political opponents.

After Orban's party was ousted from power in an election in April, Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar -- who was sworn in on Saturday -- said that Hungary would no longer protect people wanted elsewhere. "Hungary will no longer be a dumping ground for internationally wanted criminals," he told journalists the day after his victory, naming as examples Ziobro and his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, suspected of embezzling nearly 40 million euros ($47 million).

The Republika broadcaster reported earlier on Sunday that Ziobro was in the US, while liberal broadcaster TVN24 published a photo of Ziobro at Newark Liberty International Airport, which it said had been taken by another traveller.

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260510-poland-s-wanted-ex-minister-confirms-he-fled-to-us-from-hungary