Zbigniew Ziobro, former Polish justice minister accused of misusing victim aid funds for political gain, fled Europe on May 9 when he flew from Milan, Italy, to New York, US [1, 2]. He faces 26 charges related mostly to abuse of victim aid funds in Poland [1, 2].
Ziobro entered the US on a foreign media journalist visa. This was approved following direct instructions from US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who ordered senior State Department officials to facilitate Ziobro's visa acquisition [1, 2].
Before arriving in the US, Ziobro obtained a 'Geneva passport' issued by Hungary after being granted asylum by its prior nationalist government [1, 2]. His lawyer, Bartosz Lewandowski, stated: "My client would like to emphasize that at the time of his departure, he was not an internationally wanted person and was not prohibited from travelling to the U.S." [1].
Ziobro denies any wrongdoing and calls the charges politically motivated. He claims Poland's current pro-European Union government is targeting him in a campaign against his right-wing views [1]. "He denies wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign by Poland's ruling pro-European Union coalition," a report said [1].
Now based in the US, Ziobro announced his intention to work as a correspondent for a right-wing Polish television station [1, 2].
Polish prosecutors officially confirmed on May 20 that Ziobro left Europe on May 9, ending the search efforts within the EU [1, 2].
