„Gazeta Wyborcza” on Tuesday, May 12, described two hypotheses regarding the possible route of departure from Hungary. According to TVN24/Kontakt24, Ziobro was spotted on Saturday, May 9, at Newark Airport in New Jersey.
Newark and questions about Romanowski
Newark Airport was Ziobro’s first publicly documented location in the USA. The situation of Marcin Romanowski, his long-time associate who previously obtained international protection in Hungary, remains less clear. According to findings by Roman Imielski of „Gazeta Wyborcza”, Romanowski reportedly did not receive a US visa and is not currently in the USA. This information has not been officially confirmed by US authorities. Romanowski’s previous apartment in Budapest, as RMF FM previously established, had been empty since May 1.
Two hypotheses from „Gazeta Wyborcza”
„Gazeta Wyborcza” describes two possible ways for Ziobro to leave Hungary. The first hypothesis, considered more probable by the newspaper, assumes departure via Serbia and a flight from Belgrade airport. The second, less probable according to the newspaper, concerns the possibility of using a special plane. Both versions should be treated as media findings, not as an officially confirmed travel itinerary. „Wyborcza” also notes that in the context of political changes in Hungary and tensions surrounding the cases of both Polish politicians, Ziobro’s escape itself — which occurred on Saturday, May 9 — was a surprise to the Polish side.
The visa decision aspect
The most significant finding by „Wyborcza” concerns the American side. The newspaper claims that the decision to grant Ziobro an American visa was made at the highest political level in the USA. As the newspaper reports, the US Department of State refused to comment, citing the confidential nature of visa data. This claim has not been officially confirmed by US authorities.
In April 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski stated after a conversation with US Ambassador Thomas Rose that Washington did not plan to grant Ziobro asylum. However, entering on a visa is not the same as asylum. These are two separate procedures, although a person already in the USA can later apply for asylum.
The Telewizja Republika aspect
According to unofficial findings by Onet, the basis for Ziobro’s entry into the USA was reportedly a visa related to cooperation with Telewizja Republika. On Sunday, May 10, the station officially confirmed that the former minister would be its political commentator from the territory of the United States — the first interview in this role was broadcast that same evening. The editor-in-chief of TV Republika, Tomasz Sakiewicz, announced further information on the cooperation with the station. At this stage, there is no official confirmation of the exact visa category under which Ziobro crossed the US border.
On Monday, May 11, the National Public Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to US Ambassador Thomas Rose requesting to ascertain whether Ziobro and Romanowski are in the United States, when and on the basis of what documents they crossed the border, and whether they are applying for refugee status or asylum. The Warsaw District Court hearing on the appeal of the defense against temporary arrest has been set for September 8, 2026. Further formal steps, including possible international actions, will depend on the American side’s response and the decisions of Polish procedural bodies.
Key facts
- What: Ziobro photographed at Newark Airport, NJ (Saturday, May 9, TVN24/Kontakt24). According to „Gazeta Wyborcza” (May 12), the visa decision was reportedly made at the highest political level in the USA — US authorities have not officially confirmed this.
- Route hypotheses: according to GW, there are two versions — via Serbia/Belgrade (more probable) or by special plane (less probable). Both unofficial.
- Sources: Gazeta Wyborcza, Onet, TVN24/Kontakt24, Telewizja Republika, Wprost, RMF FM.
We are following the topic further on poland.us. For a detailed catalog of Polish-American companies and institutions in the USA, please refer to PolishPages.com.
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