Former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro has been granted asylum in Hungary amid prosecutions at home for alleged abuse of power, a move that sharpens tensions between Warsaw and Budapest.

Allegations include diverting funds from the crime victims’ fund to acquire Pegasus spyware, with opponents saying it was used to spy on political adversaries.

Poland’s authorities allege 26 crimes by Ziobro, including forming and belonging to a criminal association and embezzling about 35 million euros; if convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government vows to pursue accountability for PiS figures while defending judicial independence and upholding the rule of law.

The report cites multiple sources and identifies dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH as the outlet providing coverage.

Ziobro’s 2015–2023 judicial reforms are seen as weakening Poland’s judiciary; the current government aims to reverse them, though resistance remains from nationalist figures tied to PiS.

Since PiS lost power in 2023, Poland is governed by a pro-EU coalition under Tusk, seeking to address past abuses and corruption.

Tensions persist between PiS and the new government, impacting judicial reform and cross-border asylum cases.

Ziobro is blamed for transforming the judiciary into a tool of the ruling party during his tenure, eroding judicial independence.

The article is from taz and provides context on rule-of-law issues in Poland.

Ziobro was a central figure in the PiS government that aligned the courts with political allies and pursued critics through disciplinary actions.

Tusk’s party accuses PiS of illegal spyware use; Ziobro contends his actions were lawful.