The District Court in Warsaw has decided to issue a safe conduct for former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski, as announced by his lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski. The ruling opens the way for the Law and Justice (PiS) politician to return to Poland without risk of detention by authorities. Romanowski had applied for the opportunity to give testimony in an investigation concerning irregularities in the Justice Fund.
What safe conduct means for the politician
A safe conduct is a legal institution that guarantees protection from arrest during court proceedings. As lawyer Lewandowski emphasised in an interview with Polsat News, the court’s decision is not yet final – the prosecution has the right to lodge an appeal, which would then go to a second-instance court. A representative of the prosecution has already announced that they will challenge the ruling.
The lawyer assessed the decision as “very wise”, arguing that it is also in the prosecution’s interest, as it will enable them to continue the investigation with Romanowski’s participation. Once the ruling becomes final, according to the lawyer, “both the temporary arrest, the European Arrest Warrant and the arrest warrant will lapse”, which will enable a safe return to the country.
Conditions and restrictions for the former deputy minister
Romanowski will have to meet certain conditions to maintain the guarantees granted to him. The politician is obliged to inform the prosecution of his whereabouts and must not engage in evidence tampering in the case. Lewandowski assured that his client will respond whilst at liberty, without the need to submit to police supervision.
When asked about guarantees that the former deputy minister will not continue hiding, the lawyer stated: “If this ruling becomes final, I have no doubt that Marcin Romanowski will come to Poland. It is also in his interest.”
Background to the disappearance and prosecution charges
Romanowski disappeared from Poland at the end of 2024, when the prosecution brought 11 charges against him in connection with an investigation into the Justice Fund. These included suspicions of participation in an organised criminal group acting to the detriment of property, exceeding authority and misappropriation of public funds.
As reported by Polsat News, the politician was found in Hungary, where Viktor Orban granted him political asylum. The situation changed after the April parliamentary elections, which Orban lost. Romanowski then left Hungarian territory and went into hiding in an unknown location. The application for a safe conduct was posted from Moldovan Transnistria.
The date of the former deputy minister’s possible return to Poland now depends on whether the prosecution decides to appeal and how quickly it will be considered by a higher court.
