The prosecutor’s office under Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has filed a motion to waive the immunity of former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. It also seeks the temporary arrest of the vice president and PiS MP. 

Ziobro gave an interview to Telewizja Republika, in which he said that members of the current team are afraid of him because he oversaw investigations linked to Donald Tusk’s close associates. 

“There’s a bunch of thieves there. (…) We’re dealing with criminals who have repeatedly crossed the ‘Rubicon’ by violating the constitution and laws,” he continued, reports Do Rzeczy.

“The charges brought against me today are an expression of the utter desperation of Tusk’s criminal gang, who are embarrassing themselves by making allegations that, if not for the gravity of the situation, would be fit for a cabaret, not for serious consideration. (…) Today we are dealing with a government full of a thirst for revenge and retaliation,” Ziobro said.

“I’ve spent my entire professional life fighting crime; that was my goal, and I think I also contributed to making Poland a safer country. Among other things, I dismantled VAT mafias, which allowed the Polish state to obtain hundreds, and over the years, billions of złoty,” said the former head of the Ministry of Justice.

“They know that when we return, when I return in the future and have influence over the justice system, their fate will be bleak, hence their determination. They’ve staked everything on destroying us, but they won’t succeed,” Ziobro announced. 

“They will lose and will be held accountable ruthlessly but fairly according to the rules of law,” he added. 

According to the prosecutor’s office, Ziobro is suspected of committing 26 crimes, including establishing and leading an organized crime group within the Ministry of Justice that allegedly misappropriated over PLN 150 million (€35 million) from the Justice Fund.