_Cropped_1778576676.jpg)
Nigeria's Dangote Cement ups dividend 50% for record $550mn payout ahead of planned refinery IPO
2 hours ago
Hungary revoked refugee status on July 2 for fugitive former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, his former deputy Marcin Romanowski and Ziobro’s wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, clearing the way for Poland to intensify efforts to bring the two former officials home to face abuse-of-power charges.
The decision by Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s new pro-European government also invalidated refugee travel documents that had allowed Ziobro and Romanowski to leave Hungary after they were granted asylum by the previous administration of Viktor Orban.
“I have received written confirmation that Hungary has revoked the refugee status of Marcin Romanowski, Zbigniew Ziobro, and Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro,” Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on X.
“It has also invalidated their travel documents. The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind,” Sikorski also said.
Ziobro and Romanowski, senior figures in the nationalist Law and Justice government that lost power in 2023, face allegations linked mainly to the misuse of money from the Justice Fund, which was intended to help victims of crime and former prisoners.
Polish investigators suspect Ziobro of 26 offences, including founding and directing an organised criminal group inside the justice ministry that allegedly misappropriated more than PLN150mn (€35.4mn) from the fund.
A related allegation concerns the illegal purchase of Israeli surveillance software Pegasus to monitor political opponents, according to prosecutors.
Ziobro could face up to 25 years in prison if indicted.
Ziobro and Romanowski deny charges and say they are targets of political revenge by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government because they investigated alleged wrongdoing by people close to Tusk.
Ziobro flew to the US in May, the day Magyar was sworn in. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau instructed senior State Department officials to facilitate and approve a visa for him, Reuters reported.
Poland will now ask US institutions whether people without valid travel documents can remain in the country, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said on X.
It remains unclear where Romanowski has been since he left Hungary. He was repeatedly denied a US visa and Polish authorities suspect he might be in Serbia.
Don’t just follow the news—understand it.
The IntelliNews PRO service includes access to reports, exclusive market data, and more news that decision-makers care about. Stay ahead of the market with IntelliNews PRO.
Sign Up NowRelated Content
News
Nigeria's Dangote Cement ups dividend 50% for record $550mn payout ahead of planned refinery IPO
Dangote Cement's record dividend could boost interest in a planned IPO of its sister company controlling the 650,000-bpd oil refinery in Lagos, which market estimates have valued at up to $50bn.
Moldova’s prime minister resigns after corruption scandal at air traffic control company
Alexandru Munteanu says he cannot govern "in accordance with my principles" as MoldATSA scandal shakes political establishment.
South Korea raises alert after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The ministry said on July 3 that the infections had been identified at farms in Yecheon, about 160km south-east of Seoul.
Lukashenko hails Indonesia as Belarus' key partner in Southeast Asia
Speaking after their meeting at the Merdeka Palace on July 2, Lukashenko said Indonesia would remain a key partner for Belarus in the region. He said even a single strong partner in Southeast Asia would be of significant value to Belarus.
