Appeal against safe conduct letter

On 6 October 2026, Poland's National Prosecutor's Office submitted an appeal to the Warsaw Court of Appeal contesting a decision to grant a safe conduct letter to former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski. The non-final ruling, delivered on Wednesday in late September 2026 by the Warsaw District Court, would allow Romanowski to return to Poland and participate in legal proceedings without being placed in pre-trial detention. National Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Przemysław Nowak stated that prosecutors from Investigative Team Number 2 lodged the appeal through the district court, citing both factual errors and procedural violations. The prosecution requested that the appellate court overturn the ruling to refuse the safe conduct letter or annul the order and remand the matter to the first-instance court for reconsideration.

International flight and Transnistria link

Romanowski, an MP for Law and Justice who has been sought by authorities for nearly two years, submitted his application for the safe conduct letter from Transnistria, a Russian-controlled separatist region of Moldova. The former deputy minister had lived in Budapest after receiving political asylum in Hungary in late 2024. Following the defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary's parliamentary elections on 12 April 2026, Romanowski left Hungary for Transnistria. Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro also fled Hungary around the same period, subsequently traveling to the United States.

Prosecution objection and trust concerns

In challenging the ruling, prosecutors argued that their formal objection during pre-trial proceedings is legally binding on the court. Prosecutor Woźniak reiterated that Romanowski's conduct over the past two years demonstrates an active effort to evade justice rather than cooperate with law enforcement.

“The prosecutor's objection binds the court in preparatory proceedings. The legislator, introducing such a regulation, expressly noted that this applies only to preparatory proceedings.”

Woźniak emphasized that the suspect cannot be trusted to return voluntarily, explaining that his declarations lack credibility following his extended period in hiding abroad.

“He has been hiding for a long time, taking steps aimed at avoiding responsibility. His declarations are untrustworthy. I do not trust the suspect.”

A spokesperson for the Warsaw District Court defended the original order in late September, arguing that issuing the safe conduct letter offered a more effective path to advancing the inquiry than persisting with previously unsuccessful enforcement efforts.

Scope of the Justice Fund allegations

The investigation concerns the alleged misuse of public funds distributed by the Justice Fund while Romanowski served as deputy justice minister. Prosecutors intend to bring 19 charges against Romanowski, including participation in an organized criminal group and rigging grant competitions to direct state funding to selected recipients. Prior to the court's safe conduct decision, the Warsaw District Court had issued both a domestic arrest warrant and a European Arrest Warrant for Romanowski at the request of the prosecution. The Warsaw Court of Appeal will determine whether Romanowski can defend himself while free or whether active warrants will remain in effect.