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Polish prosecutors reissue European arrest warrant for ex-deputy justice minister hiding in Hungary

22.12.2025 16:50
Polish authorities have submitted a renewed request for a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister and politician from the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, who is currently in Hungary under the protection of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Kremlin-friendly government.
Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister and right-wing populist PiS party politician currently sheltered in Hungary by Viktor Orbns Kremlin-friendly government, is once again the target of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Polish authorities over alleged Justice Fund offences.
Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister and right-wing populist PiS party politician currently sheltered in Hungary by Viktor Orbán’s Kremlin-friendly government, is once again the target of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Polish authorities over alleged Justice Fund offences.Photo: PAP/MTI/Zoltan Balogh

Romanowski faces allegations of serious misconduct related to Poland’s Justice Fund.

An EAW had previously been issued against Romanowski last year, but he obtained political asylum in Hungary, effectively avoiding Polish authorities.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Warsaw District Court announced that the court had annulled the earlier warrant.

Romanowski’s lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, said the court accepted his argument that the investigation had been subject to “unlawful political pressure,” and that the actions of Polish law enforcement threatened rights and freedoms protected under the constitution and international law.

The annulment was criticised by Poland’s justice minister, Waldemar Żurek, who said the decision was taken “unilaterally, in a closed session, without informing the prosecution, raising serious procedural concerns.”

“The court’s decision to annul the European Arrest Warrant against Marcin Romanowski was taken unilaterally, in a closed session, without the knowledge or notification of the prosecution, which raises serious procedural concerns,” Minister Żurek said in a special statement on Friday.

On Monday, via social media, Żurek added that the annulment of a European Arrest Warrant cannot be appealed, and the only legal avenue is to submit a new request.

He stressed that the renewed application reflects concrete and objective reasons: Romanowski is hiding abroad and remains wanted in Poland, he is accused of multiple serious offences carrying potential prison sentences of up to 25 years, and previous preventive measures by Polish courts had proven insufficient to secure his appearance.

According to Żurek, the EAW remains the only effective mechanism to bring Romanowski back to face justice.

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Source: Polish Radio English Section/PR24/X/@w_zurek