PiS government used Pegasus to spy on opposition and media, documents implicate Ziobro

Declassified documents regarding the purchase of the Pegasus surveillance system suggest that former Polish Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, a member of the Law and Justice (PiS) government, played a central role in the deal, according to "Gazeta Wyborcza."

Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro speaks at a press conference in the Polish parliament in Warsaw on February 25, 2025, regarding the ongoing investigation into the use of the Pegasus surveillance software by the government to spy on political opponents and journalists.

Photo: PAP/Szymon Pulcyn

The newspaper reports that an executive order altering the Justice Fund was issued just two days before the head of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) requested PLN 25 million (€5.8 million) for the purchase of the system.

Gazeta Wyborcza also notes that Ziobro previously denied involvement, stating last year that he was not part of the process "even in a documentary sense."

Ziobro attempted to shift blame for Pegasus deal, documents reveal

On Friday, Justice Minister and Attorney General Adam Bodnar declassified correspondence between Ziobro and CBA officials.

The documents suggest that Ziobro tried to shift the responsibility for the purchase onto his subordinates.

However, the timeline of the documents indicates that the deal was orchestrated between the CBA, Ziobro, Woś, and the surveillance system supplier from beginning to end.

Ustawka pod Pegasusa. Szef CBA wnioskuje o pieniądze na system dwa dni po zmianie przepisów o Funduszu Sprawiedliwości https://t.co/BtPAcHBxZe

— czuchnowski (@czuchnowskiw) April 13, 2025

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• Zbigniew Ziobro faces 30-day arrest for skipping Pegasus investigation committee

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Source: IAR/Gazeta Wyborcza/X/@czuchnowskiw