Former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Released Amid Immunity Dispute

Former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski, detained over charges of misusing public funds, was released after the president of a European rights assembly affirmed his immunity. The decision marks a challenge to Poland's pro-European government's efforts to investigate alleged wrongdoings by the previous administration.

Former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski, who was detained as part of an investigation into the misuse of public funds, was released on Tuesday. This came after Marcin Romanowski was declared to have immunity by the president of a European rights assembly.

The pro-European administration led by Donald Tusk has allowed prosecutors to explore allegations of malpractice previously obscured by the former government. However, the Warsaw court's decision to release Romanowski represents a significant obstacle in these efforts. Opposition lawmakers, including Romanowski, assert that the actions are politically motivated.

Poland's parliament rescinded Romanowski's immunity as a lawmaker last Friday. Nonetheless, his lawyer contended that he remained protected by his status as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The president of the assembly, Theodoros Rousopoulos, in a letter to Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia, confirmed Romanowski’s immunity.