Full Breakdown
Hungary Revokes Asylum for Former Polish Justice Minister, Signaling Policy Shift
7/3/2026, 3:04:44 AM
Revocation of Asylum
On 2 July 2025 Hungary’s Interior Ministry withdrew the refugee status of former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, his deputy Marcin Romanowski and Ziobro’s wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, cancelling their travel documents.
Background
Ziobro received asylum in January and Romanowski in December 2024 from Viktor Orbán’s government after the Law and Justice party lost power in 2023. Peter Magyar’s Tisza party won the April 2025 election, pledged to end Hungary’s sheltering of officials, and began reviewing politically-issued refugee statuses.
Actors
Zbigniew Ziobro (Polish Justice Minister), Marcin Romanowski (deputy), Peter Magyar (Hungarian Prime Minister), Radoslaw Sikorski (Polish Foreign Minister), Waldemar Zurek (Polish Justice Minister), Bartosz Lewandowski (lawyer).
Timeline
Asylum was granted to Ziobro in January and to Romanowski in December 2024; Magyar’s party won in April 2025; Ziobro flew to U.S. on 9 May 2025, Romanowski followed in May, and Hungary revoked status on 2 July 2025.
Legal
Polish prosecutors have filed over two dozen charges against Ziobro for leading an organised criminal group and diverting about 150 million zloty from the Justice Fund; Romanowski faces similar accusations.
Impact
Poland will challenge the revocation before the European Court of Justice, arguing it breaches EU mutual-trust principles, and seeks extradition of duo from United States, though the U.S. State Department has not commented on visa issues.
Official Statements & Responses
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Hungary’s decision nullified travel documents of Ziobro, Romanowski and Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro. Hungarian Interior Ministry said the review met legal standards and that individuals have been notified to appear before authorities. Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek announced Warsaw will contact U.S. agencies to verify men’s immigration status and will pursue extradition if confirmed.
Criticism & Opposition
Lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski called the charges a witch-hunt, saying since 2023 the Polish government has focused on persecuting the political opposition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Romanowski’s location is unknown. U.S. State Department declined comment on visa facilitation reportedly arranged by Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau. Polish media allege former President Donald Trump helped secure Ziobro’s visa, a claim unverified by U.S. officials.
Quotes
- “I have received written confirmation that Hungary has revoked the refugee status of Marcin Romanowski, Zbignign Ziobro, and Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro. It also invalidated their travel documents. The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind.” — Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Foreign Minister
- “Since 2023, the entire (Polish) government apparatus has been focused on persecuting the political opposition in Poland.” — Bartosz Lewandowski, lawyer for Ziobro and Romanowski
- “We will contact the relevant institutions in the United States to inquire whether individuals lacking valid travel documents can continue to reside in the United States.” — Waldemar Zurek, Polish Justice Minister
- “The review of politically granted refugee statuses was being conducted in line with Hungarian and international legal requirements.” — Hungarian Interior Ministry
Next Steps
Hungary will finalize the revocation after legal review; Poland will pursue a European Court case and continue diplomatic outreach to the United States on extradition, influencing future EU cooperation on cross-border prosecutions.
