Marcin Romanowski, a member of the Polish parliament representing the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party and former deputy to PiS justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, is allegedly residing in Transnistria while evading prosecution by the Tusk government, according to reports.
Romanowski left Poland in 2024 but has retained his seat in parliament. He sent a letter from Tiraspol, the capital of the Transnistrian region, to the Warsaw Regional Court requesting safe conduct that would allow him to answer prosecutors' questions while remaining at liberty. The court received the document on August 4.
Transnistria is an internationally unrecognized breakaway state located between Moldova and Ukraine. It operates with de facto independence but lacks recognition from any United Nations member states, including Poland.
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government argue that no parliamentarian should be exempt from legal scrutiny regardless of party affiliation. Government officials have emphasized that Poland's rule of law requires equal treatment under the courts.
Polish prosecutors under the Tusk administration have sought to pursue investigations into figures associated with the previous PiS government, arguing that accountability is essential for democratic governance. The safe conduct request has been characterized as an attempt to delay legal proceedings rather than a good-faith effort to cooperate with investigators.
What the Right Is Saying
PiS representatives and conservative commentators argue that the prosecution of Romanowski represents political targeting by the Tusk coalition rather than genuine judicial process. They contend that former government officials are being subjected to selective enforcement based on their political affiliations.
Romanowski's allies have noted that he has not refused to engage with prosecutors but is seeking guarantees against pre-trial detention. PiS has defended its members' right to contest charges through legal channels while maintaining their parliamentary duties.
What the Numbers Show
Romanowski remains a sitting member of the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, despite his absence from the country since 2024. Polish law permits MPs to retain their seats unless expelled by a two-thirds majority vote or stripped of immunity through formal parliamentary proceedings.
Transnistria has no extradition agreements with EU member states and does not recognize the jurisdiction of international legal bodies. Moldova, which claims sovereignty over Transnistria, has limited practical control over the region.
The Bottom Line
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Poland's current government and members of the previous PiS administration. Romanowski's location in an unrecognized territory creates procedural complications for Polish prosecutors seeking to pursue any charges against him.
The Warsaw Regional Court's decision on the safe conduct request will determine whether Romanowski appears voluntarily before investigators or remains in Transnistria indefinitely. Parliamentary immunity protections add another layer of complexity to any potential prosecution.