On Monday, March 31, 2025, the District Court in Warsaw made a significant ruling regarding the legal troubles of Zbigniew Ziobro, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General during the Law and Justice party's (PiS) governance. The court rejected a motion from the Pegasus investigation committee that sought to impose a temporary arrest on Ziobro for up to 30 days, a decision that has sparked considerable political debate.
The court session began at noon and concluded around 13:20, with Judge Tomasz Grochowicz presiding over the proceedings. The court's decision indicated that the committee had previously had the opportunity to interrogate Ziobro during his detention on January 31, 2025, which was a critical point in the judge's reasoning. Despite the committee's claims that Ziobro had persistently evaded testifying, the court found no legal grounds to justify the arrest.
Magdalena Sroka, the chairwoman of the Pegasus committee, represented the committee at the hearing. Following the court's announcement, she expressed her disagreement with the ruling and confirmed that the committee plans to file an appeal. "We do not agree with this decision," Sroka stated, emphasizing the committee's determination to pursue further legal action.
The Pegasus investigation committee is tasked with examining the use of Israeli surveillance software by the Polish government, special services, and police during the tenure of the United Right government. The committee's objective is to determine whether these actions were legally justified and to identify those responsible for acquiring the Pegasus software.
Ziobro's legal counsel, attorney Michał Hajduk, argued that the request for arrest lacked legal basis. He pointed out that the committee could have conducted the interrogation when Ziobro was available, thus undermining their argument for arrest. "According to the letter of the law, there are no grounds for arresting Ziobro," Hajduk stated, framing the issue as more political than legal.
The court's ruling highlighted that while Ziobro's behavior was deemed "highly reprehensible," it did not meet the legal standards required for an arrest. Judge Anna Ptaszek, a spokesperson for the court, clarified that the commission had the opportunity to question Ziobro but chose not to proceed with the interrogation, which ultimately led to the dismissal of the arrest motion.
On January 31, 2025, Zbigniew Ziobro was detained after 10:30 AM, following the revocation of his parliamentary immunity. The committee had intended to interrogate him that day, but the session was deemed ineffective due to his absence at the scheduled time. The committee's frustration with Ziobro's lack of cooperation led them to pursue the arrest motion two months later.
In light of the court's recent decision, the Pegasus committee has set new dates for attempting to interrogate Ziobro, scheduling sessions for June 23, 24, and 25, 2025. Sroka noted that the committee's strategy included anticipating an appeal against the court's ruling, which could delay the interrogation process.
Ziobro has publicly criticized the committee's actions, arguing that they are politically motivated and legally unfounded. He referenced a ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal that deemed the committee's establishment unconstitutional, a sentiment echoed by other members of the PiS party. "The illegal commission extracted consent from the court for my detention not for interrogation but for pure political spectacle," Ziobro asserted in a social media post.
Despite the court's ruling, the political implications of this case remain significant. Ziobro's repeated absences from committee meetings—five times in total—have fueled accusations of evasion and raised questions about accountability within the Polish political landscape. The committee's decision to pursue arrest reflects a broader struggle between political factions over the legality and oversight of government actions.
As the political drama unfolds, the Pegasus investigation committee continues to assert its mandate to hold officials accountable for the use of surveillance technology, while opponents like Ziobro challenge the committee's legitimacy and motives. The outcome of the upcoming appeal and the planned interrogation sessions will likely influence the trajectory of this politically charged investigation.
In summary, the court's rejection of the arrest motion against Zbigniew Ziobro has not only spared him from immediate detention but has also intensified the ongoing political conflict surrounding the Pegasus investigation. With the committee poised to appeal the ruling and seek further testimony, the coming months promise to be crucial in determining the future of both the investigation and Ziobro's political career.
