Poland’s wanted ex-minister confirms he fled to US from Hungary

Poland’s former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, wanted on several criminal charges in his home country, has fled Hungary to the United States, he confirmed on Sunday, following local media reports.

“I am in the United States,” Ziobro told right-wing broadcaster Republika. “I arrived yesterday, and this is my third time traveling around the country,” he added.

Ziobro, who received asylum from right-wing ally Viktor Orbán’s government last year, faces up to 25 years in prison in Poland if convicted of the charges laid against him.

They include abuse of power, leading an organised criminal enterprise and using funds meant for crime victims to buy Israeli Pegasus spyware, allegedly to monitor political opponents.

After Orban’s party was ousted from power in an election in April, Hungary’s new Prime Minister Péter Magyar – who was sworn in on Saturday – said that Hungary would no longer protect people wanted elsewhere.

“Hungary will no longer be a dumping…