Poland’s political landscape was shaken this week as prosecutors moved to lift the parliamentary immunity of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, one of the country’s most powerful figures in recent years. Ziobro, who led the Ministry of Justice from 2015 to 2023 and played a central role in reshaping Poland’s judiciary under the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government, now faces potential criminal charges for alleged misuse of public funds, abuse of power, and involvement in what prosecutors describe as an “organized criminal group.”

At the heart of the case is the alleged diversion of around 150 million Polish zlotys (approximately $41.2 million) from the Justice Fund-a state fund intended to support crime victims and rehabilitation programs-toward illicit purchases of spyware, including the notorious Israeli-made Pegasus system. Prosecutors claim that under Ziobro’s direction, these funds were used to acquire surveillance technology and other tools for political purposes, notably to spy on opposition politicians, judges, and even prosecutors who were critical of his administration.

The Prosecutor General’s Office announced on October 29 that it has filed a motion in parliament to lift Ziobro’s immunity, a procedural step required before formal charges can be filed. The motion outlines 26 criminal offenses, including misappropriation of state resources, abuse of authority, and leading an organized criminal group.

According to spokeswoman Anna Adamiak, investigators have compiled extensive evidence from multiple sources: witness and suspect testimonies, audit reports from the Supreme Audit Office (NIK), and electronic data recovered from ministry records. “The materials indicate that Minister Ziobro organized and supervised an enterprise........

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