Poland has formally requested the extradition of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro from the United States, submitting the application through its embassy to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. The National Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the request covers temporary arrest and extradition on 19 of the 26 charges against Ziobro in an investigation into the alleged defraudation of millions of zloty from a crime victims' reserve fund.
A Warsaw court upheld Ziobro's pretrial detention in July, and an arrest warrant has been active since February. Ziobro, who has been in the United States since May 10, previously fled to Hungary where he obtained international protection before relocating.
Hungary revoked the refugee status of Ziobro, his wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, and former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski in early July. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland awaits positive signals from Washington on the request.