Romanowski, who served as a Polish deputy justice minister from 2019 to 2023, is accused of committing 11 criminal offenses, including participation in an organized crime group, embezzlement of over PLN 100 million (about USD 25 million), and rigging competitions for public funds as part of the Justice Fund, a program he supervised.
The Hungarian government’s decision has been condemned in Poland as a "hostile act" against the country and the European Union.
The Polish foreign ministry on Friday summoned the Hungarian ambassador over the move.
The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, justified granting asylum to Romanowski under Hungary's 2007 asylum law.
Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, claimed that the charges against his client were politically motivated, pointing to actions by Polish authorities as an infringement on Romanowski’s rights and freedoms.
As tensions between Warsaw and Budapest escalate, the outcome of this case could have significant ramifications for the already strained relations within the EU, particularly on issues of rule of law and mutual legal assistance.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Thursday took to social media to denounce the move, saying that the Hungarian government’s decision to grant political asylum to a criminal suspect wanted under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is a "hostile act towards Poland and the principles of the European Union."
Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak characterized the asylum decision as part of a broader political strategy by Orbán.
"This is not just about Romanowski avoiding justice in Poland—it raises questions about deeper ties between Orbán and Poland’s formerly ruling party," he said.
"It’s clear that Orbán is choosing confrontation with Poland and Europe," he added.
Siemoniak also alluded to potential broader implications, suggesting that Orbán's move might be an invitation for other Polish opposition politicians facing legal trouble to seek asylum in Hungary.
"Orbán’s declaration to offer asylum to all politically persecuted individuals sounds like an open door for others," he said in a media interview. "There are already reports of more politicians preparing to follow suit."
Polish Deputy Interior Minister Wiesław Szczepański announced plans to escalate the matter to the European Commission, urging the EU to consider financial penalties against Hungary for non-compliance with EU legal norms.
He pointed out that Hungary is obligated to honor the EAW and respect European law.
"We will appeal to the European Commission because this is now a case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and perhaps a severe financial penalty imposed on Hungary will lead the country to hand Romanowski over, as the cost of keeping him in Hungary will become unsustainable," Szczepański said in an interview with broadcaster TVN24.
The case has sparked domestic criticism of the handling of the situation by Polish police.
Szczepański dismissed claims of negligence, arguing that Romanowski had fled Poland before the EAW was issued so he was legally free, and able to travel.
Gergely Gulyás, chief of staff to Hungary's Orbán, said on Thursday that Romanowski, a member of the previously governing Law and Justice (PiS) party, had sought asylum in Hungary and was granted it "in accordance with Hungarian and EU law."
Polish Justice Minister and Prosecutor-General Adam Bodnar told reporters on Friday that "the European Arrest Warrant procedure will continue" against Romanowski.
(rt/gs)
Sources: IAR, PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.