Without an international warrior for the former minister who escaped to Hungary

Interpol International Organization has rejected the request of a new Polish government under the leadership Donalda Tuska to issue an international warrior for former Deputy Minister of Justice Marcino Romanowski. As the first reported Polish radio station RMF FMInterpol refused to enter Romanowski on the list of the most sought after and will delete his information from his systems. The decision is a serious blow to the Polish prosecutor’s office, which is investigating Romanowski for alleged involvement in the corruption affair, while strengthening the claims of the opposition and the Romanowsky itself that it is a politically motivated prosecution.

Romanowski, a member of the former ruling Party Law and Justice (PIS), was the Deputy Minister of Justice in the previous government and controlled the so -called operation between 2019 and 2023 Fund for justiceintended to help victims of crimes. A new Polish prosecutor’s office led by minister Adam Bodnar He is accused by as many as 11 criminal offenses, including participating in an organized criminal organization, abuse of office and organizing tenders for obtaining funds from the said fund, which is expected to be harmed by the Treasury by more than 100 million evils (about € 23.4 million), according to an analyst Sławomir Sierakowski. As a key evidence of the prosecution, the testimony and recordings of Romanowski’s former close associate have Tomasza cold.

Escape to Hungarian and Orbán asylum

When the Polish court ordered temporary detention in December 2024, authorities could no longer find it. It soon turned out that a politician had fled to Hungary, where his government Victor Orbán granted political asylum. As reported by the portal Poland Todaythe Hungarian authorities justified their decision with concern that the Romanowski in Poland would not guarantee a fair trial under the current government and that the independence of the judiciary and the rights of opposition policies were at risk. Poland has, for Romanowski, launched a European arrest order (EAW), which is in force within the EU.

They have not officially explained their decision to reject the international warrant from Interpol, as the information was supposed to be confidential. Opposition MP from the PIS and former Minister of Justice Marcin Warchoł is, according to the portal Poland Today Said that the decision of Interpol « can be a serious accusation against Polish authorities. » In doing so, he referred to Article 3 of the Statute of Interpol, which strictly prohibits the interference or activity of political, military, religious or racial character. “It is hard to say that these are military, religious or racial reasons. They remain political, which may mean that the international police organization has recognized the prosecution of Minister Romanowski as a political activity, « Warchoł wrote.

Romanowski Sam is also in a statement to Polish television Telewiza Republic He described the decision of Interpol as « the Red Card of Tusk’s authorities » and the compromise of the current Polish government and the prosecution. He stressed that Interpol, as a serious institution, is not concerned with the prosecution of politically persecuted persons. Legal experts such as President of the Polish Law Chamber Przzysław dew behind the portal Onetthey believe that the decision was probably influenced by a combination of factors – both the fact that Romanowski received asylum in Hungary, as well as the possible use of the third article of the Statute on Political Neutrality. Some also point out that Interpol usually focuses on the worst crimes such as terrorism and trafficking in human beings, and the allegations against Romanowski may not have reached this threshold.

Hungary as a « shelter »?

Despite the decision of the Interpol, the Polish prosecutor’s office announces the continuation of the prosecution through a European arrest order that legally obliges Hungary as a member of the EU, although the extradition of persons with asylum status is complicated. In early April, the prosecution also issued a European investigative order (EIO) to collect evidence in other EU countries.

The case of Romanowski, however, goes beyond only Polish internal political frameworks. Analyst Sławomir Sierakowski warns that Hungarian Viktor Orbán It is becoming a kind of “safe shelter for corrupt policies” from other countries, mentioning the example of a former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevskywho resorted to prison for corruption and former chief of the Polish energy giant Orlen Daniela Obajitewho also sought refuge in Hungary. According to Sierakowski, such behavior of Hungarian undermines the rule of law throughout the EU, so it announces that Poland will initiate proceedings against Hungary before the European Commission.