Donald Tusk confirms 99% certainty on Marcin Romanowski in Transnistria as Sercanie order denies aiding him

Government confirmation and regional tracking

Polish authorities are investigating the location of former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski after a handwritten application for a safe-conduct letter reached the Warsaw Regional Court from Tiraspol. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on 18 August that partner intelligence services confirmed Romanowski's presence in the capital of Transnistria with 99% certainty. The National Prosecutor's Office noted that Romanowski has no formal record of crossing the borders of Moldova over the past five years, nor records of entering Romania or Ukraine. Investigators issued a negative opinion on the safe-conduct petition, arguing that Romanowski's procedural conduct fails to guarantee compliance with court conditions.

Defense motions and extradition obstacles

Romanowski is wanted under a domestic arrest warrant and a European Arrest Warrant in connection with alleged financial abuses in the Justice Fund. His defense attorney, Bartosz Lewandowski, filed a formal motion requesting the Warsaw Regional Court to question Tusk as a witness regarding the government's claims and to cancel the European Arrest Warrant. Speaking at a press conference on 19 August, Tusk agreed to appear if summoned by the judiciary.

If I can help the court with anything, I have no problem with that.

Legal experts noted that executing the European Arrest Warrant directly in Tiraspol is impossible because Transnistria operates outside the constitutional control of Moldova. Prof. Tomasz Safjański of WSB University stated that any formal extradition proceedings must run through Moldova under the 1957 European Convention on Extradition. Safjański also observed that an application for an Interpol Red Notice against Romanowski was not accepted by the international agency.

Religious congregation rejects sheltering allegations

Following reports alleging that Romanowski received assistance from the Priests of the Sacred Heart, the religious order issued an official denial. The congregation operates five parishes in Transnistria, including one in Tiraspol. Media scrutiny previously connected the order to the Justice Fund investigation because another member, Father Michał O., faces charges regarding misappropriated funds.

Fr. Włodzimierz Płatek, spokesman for the Polish Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, contacted the head of the Moldovan District, Fr. Marcin Januś, to verify the claims.

There was absolutely no contact from Romanowski or his circle with any priest in Tiraspol.

Płatek clarified that the five local parishes serve the general resident population rather than functioning as exclusive Polish institutions, though clergy maintain routine pastoral contacts with people of Polish descent and the Polish embassy.

Intelligence and security concerns

Transnistria is a Russian-backed breakaway region with approximately 350,000 residents and an estimated 1,500 Russian troops stationed on its territory. General Roman Polko, former commander of Poland's GROM special forces unit, stated that Romanowski could not have traveled from Hungary to Transnistria without specialized assistance. Polko warned that Romanowski's past ministerial position gave him extensive knowledge of state administrative structures and official personnel that could interest intelligence services operating in the enclave. Polko also noted that while Polish special forces and intelligence services possess the capability to conduct cross-border extraction operations, there is no confirmation such an operation is planned.