Ukrainian authorities have suspended the extradition of a 63-year-old Polish fugitive wanted for organised crime offences, according to RMF24. Bronisław D. was scheduled to be handed over to Polish law enforcement on 23 September, but Kyiv informed Warsaw the date was “no longer valid” without offering further explanation.
The suspect has been on the run since 2017. Polish authorities are seeking him to serve a four-year prison sentence for membership in an organised criminal group. He also faces additional charges of leading a gang involved in large-scale financial fraud and money laundering.
Courts release suspect despite extradition approval
Bronisław D. was detained by Ukrainian authorities in March this year and placed in custody pending extradition. Ukrainian officials granted approval for his transfer to Poland, following the formal request from Warsaw.
However, recent decisions by courts in Lviv have complicated the process. Despite the green light from Ukrainian authorities, a local court ordered the suspect’s release from detention. Polish prosecutors lodged an appeal against the ruling, but a higher court upheld the decision to free him.
The 63-year-old is now at liberty in Ukraine, and no new date has been set for his handover to Polish law enforcement.
No explanation from Kyiv
In correspondence with Polish authorities, Ukrainian officials provided no reasons for suspending the extradition. They merely stated that the previously agreed 23 September date was no longer current.
The series of judicial decisions in Lviv over recent weeks has raised questions about the case. It remains unclear why courts chose to release a suspect whose extradition had already been approved at the governmental level, or why the suspension came without any justification offered to Warsaw.
Poland and Ukraine have an extradition treaty and generally cooperate on criminal matters, though the ongoing war has placed strain on administrative and judicial processes in Ukraine. The case highlights the challenges Polish prosecutors face when pursuing fugitives who have fled abroad, particularly to countries where local court decisions can override extradition agreements already authorised by central authorities.
What this means for Poles in Poland
This case underscores the difficulties Polish law enforcement faces in bringing fugitives back from abroad, even when formal extradition approval has been granted. For victims of financial crimes, such delays can mean justice is postponed indefinitely.
If you have been affected by organised financial fraud in Poland, you can report the matter to your local prosecutor’s office (prokuratura). The Polish National Prosecutor’s Office (Prokuratura Krajowa) also coordinates international legal assistance and extradition requests.
Poles living in the UK or USA who have been victims of cross-border fraud involving Polish suspects should contact the nearest Polish consulate, which can advise on filing complaints with Polish prosecutors. UK residents can also report international fraud to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre, while those in the United States should contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center if the offence involved online elements.
Until Ukrainian authorities provide a new extradition date or explanation, Bronisław D. remains free in Ukraine, and the outcome of the case is uncertain.
