Polish court lets former deputy justice minister Romanowski return home under residence ban
A Warsaw court issued a menlevél allowing Marcin Romanowski to re-enter Poland but imposing a residence-restriction, while he remains under investigation for serious economic offences.
On Wednesday a Warsaw court issued a menlevél permitting former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski to return to Poland, but restricting him from relocating his residence. The court justified the move by stating that Romanowski is expected to appear at future proceedings, although the prosecutor’s office has lodged an appeal, noting his years-long evasion of authorities. Romanowski had been granted political asylum by the Orbán government in 2024, was employed by the Centre for Human Rights with Hungarian state funds, and later lost that protection before disappearing to the Transnistrian region.
The decision comes amid a dispute between Judge Konrad Mielcarek, who sued Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek for defamatory remarks, and a broader controversy over the legitimacy of judges appointed by one outlet parliamentary majority, which the previous president Andrzej Duda and his successor Karol Nawrocki blocked with vetoes. The stalemate leaves the Supreme Court dominated by these contested appointees, complicating any future rulings involving the judiciary and the ministry.
Why it matters
The case illustrates how political rivalries and contested judicial appointments shape legal outcomes for high-profile officials.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage reports the court's residence-ban decision and the background dispute without overt judgment, centrist coverage stresses that prosecutors opposed the safe-passage ruling for the fugitive, while right-leaning coverage frames the episode as a ministerial clash, highlighting the minister’s attack on the judge and claims of illegitimacy.
LEFT
Focuses on the court's procedural decision and the underlying judge-minister dispute
CENTER
Emphasizes prosecutors’ opposition to granting safe passage to the fugitive former minister
RIGHT
Portrays the case as a political clash, underscoring the minister’s criticism of the judge and the controversy over the court’s authority
The left emphasises
- court issued a residence-ban allowing Romanowski to return but not relocate
- judge Konrad Mielcarek sued Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek for defamatory remarks
- Romanowski’s prior asylum in Hungary and disappearance to Transnistria
The right emphasises
- court issued an iron letter letting Romanowski stay abroad without arrest risk
- Justice Minister Żurek called the judge illegitimate and announced an appeal
- judge’s criticism of the minister’s social-media remarks as a personal attack
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