Marcin Romanowski received asylum in Hungary. There is a position of the Polish prosecutor's office

The spokesman for the National Prosecutor's Office, Przemysław Nowak, announced on Wednesday that investigators had obtained “information proving that (Marcin Romanowski – ed.) crossed the border and is staying in one of the European Union countries.” – This suspicion was sufficient for us to submit an application to the court for a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) – he added.

The District Court in Warsaw agreed on Thursday issuing a European Arrest Warrant. Already in favour PiS MP and former deputy minister of justice, an arrest warrant was issued in connection with the court's decision to impose a three-month arrest on him.

Despite the search, the services failed to determine Romanowski's whereabouts for many days.

On Thursday afternoon, the lawyer of the PiS MP, attorney Bartosz Lewandowski, wrote on the “National actions violating his rights and freedoms.”

According to him, “Romanowski asked the Hungarian authorities for protection in connection with politically motivated actions by the services and the PK, which resulted in, among others, illegal deprivation of liberty and violation of international law.”

The defender also repeated the narrative in the entry that the services' actions against Romanowski were “unlawful” or aimed at the political opposition. “My client points out that he may at any time face the allegations made by investigators when the standards of the rule of law are restored in Poland,” we read.

The head of the Chancellery of Prime Minister Orban, Gergely Gulyás, confirmed in the pro-government magazine “Mandiner” that Romanowski received international protection in Hungary.

Before 9 p.m., Lewandowski's defense lawyer appeared during an organized press conference, during which he again stated that his client had received asylum and was currently staying in Hungary.

Lewandowski added that accepting the former deputy minister's request is related to “the Polish government and the National Prosecutor's Office subordinate to it taking actions violating his rights and freedoms.” Another reason why the Hungarian government granted asylum to Romanowski is the “direct interference and influence of politicians of the current ruling majority in Poland on the ongoing investigation, as demonstrated by documents in the MP's possession.”

Romanowski's defense attorney pointed out that in his application to the Hungarian authorities, the MP informed that he could not count on a fair trial in Poland. This, in turn, is said to be due to “the political involvement of some judges who openly support the current Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar.” Moreover, these judges are to publicly declare “the need to make so-called settlements, and therefore to convict politicians of the largest opposition party in Poland.”

Lewandowski did not answer all journalists' questions, including when the PiS MP went to Hungary and why he chose this country. He also did not explain when the Hungarian government was supposed to receive Romanowski's application. However, he emphasized that the politician had to make such a request on his own.

Marcin Romanowski himself appeared on TV Republika in the evening and said that “he always appeared at the prosecutor's office, but a certain line was crossed.” He added that he had no intention of shirking any responsibility, “even though these allegations are clearly absurd.” However, he assessed that if “this illegal regime” and “criminals in prosecutor's robes” rule, the condition of “fair proceedings and an apolitical justice system” will not be met.

The MP assessed that there was falsification of evidence related to the two charges presented to him by the prosecutor's office. – After analyzing them, I concluded that a crime had been committed there, evidence had been falsified in order to bring two false – and completely absurd – charges against me, that I had allegedly acted without legal authorization for a month, he said.

– It would probably be safer, easier (…) to continue to submit to lawlessness, to be locked up in prison, but I chose the path, perhaps more difficult, more demanding, although, in my opinion, more effective – said Romanowski. In his opinion, the legal protection that Hungary gave him is “a clear and strong signal to the entire December 13 coalition team that the government crime they are committing (…) is being watched.”

The spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General, Anna Adamiak, was previously asked on TVN24 what the prosecutor's office can do now in the Romanowski case.

She noted that “it is not entirely reliable information that (Romanowski – ed.) was granted asylum because he obtained the so-called international protection, which can undoubtedly be granted to him in such asylum proceedings.” – However, for the Polish prosecutor's office it is simply information – she said.

Adamiak recalled that a European Arrest Warrant for a PiS MP was issued on Thursday. – Tomorrow this warrant will undoubtedly be found in the Schengen information system and Mr. Romanowski will be wanted on the basis of this warrant – she added.

According to her, “even granting such protection to Romanowski or granting him the right of asylum in the territory of Hungary, due to the applicable provisions on the European Arrest Warrant, cannot prevent Hungary from carrying out the procedure related to this European arrest warrant.”

The spokeswoman was asked what this procedure was. – There should be court proceedings based on the decision of the Polish court to issue a European Arrest Warrant, and as part of these proceedings, the Hungarian court will have to decide whether there are grounds for refusing to surrender Mr. Romanowski to the Polish authorities. So the mere fact of obtaining asylum cannot cause the Hungarian judicial authorities to refrain from taking action, said Adamiak.

– I must say that this is an unprecedented matter, because every country joining the European Union had to meet the criteria of a democratic state of law – continued Adamiak.

She noted that “even the regulations governing the European Arrest Warrant do not mention the right of asylum directly, because (it is) a situation that is as yet unknown and completely unpredictable.” – There is only talk of the possibility of refusing surrender if it would violate the rights and freedoms of the person to whom the order is issued – she noted.

– It seems to me that this is an area of ​​activity for the Commissioner for Justice of the European Union, because, as I say, it is an unprecedented case – she added.

Balazs Orban, a Hungarian parliamentarian, political director and advisor in Viktor Orban's office, also spoke on Romanowski's case. On Platform X he wrote that “Hungary grants political asylum to former Polish Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski.”

“The actions of Donald Tusk's liberal government, which is engaging in a legal fight against its opponents, are causing serious concerns about the rule of law in Poland. Marcin Romanowski was arrested despite his parliamentary immunity, which is a clear violation of the law,” we read.

He added that “under EU and Hungarian law, political asylum can be granted unless a fair trial is guaranteed beyond a reasonable doubt, and in Romanowski's case these conditions were clearly met.”

“This is not the first time that Hungary has accepted Polish refugees. Although we are saddened that such a need arises once again, justice requires us to act,” he said.

Gazeta.pl, citing its sources, reported earlier on Thursday that Viktor Orbán during a closed dinner at the Széll Kálmán Foundation last week, he said that Polish citizens could soon receive political asylum in Hungary.

As reported, “according to one participant, he used the phrase 'within a day or two'.” According to the website, the head of the Hungarian government did not mention any names or details. Information that such a statement was made by Orban was also reported by other media, such as Telex.hu, Vsquare and Frontstory, which also cited sources.

Moreover, Viktor Orban, in an interview also published on Thursday, criticized the state of the Polish rule of law. The Hungarian Prime Minister was also asked “if Budapest accepts Polish political refugees.” “We offer refuge to anyone who faces political persecution in their country,” he replied.

READ MORE: Orban on “Polish political refugees”. “We offer shelter”

The National Prosecutor's Office accuses PiS MP Marcin Romanowski, who as a politician of Solidarity Poland (and then Sovereign Poland) was the deputy head of the Ministry of Justice supervising the Justice Fund in 2019-2023, of committing 11 crimes, including participation in an organized criminal group and fixing competitions for money from this fund.

Read also: He oversaw the Justice Fund. What do we know about Marcin Romanowski

According to information from the prosecutor's office, on December 6, Romanowski checked out of the medical facility where he underwent a planned medical procedure. Additionally, from that day on, the MP's phones registered with his personal data have been switched off.

>> Manipulation or obstruction of proceedings? Kowalski, right-wing media and Romanowski's hospital photo