Poland has been gripped by outrage following a police raid on a Dominican monastery in Lublin, part of an international hunt for Conservative (PiS) MP and former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski.
Authorities accuse Romanowski of defrauding public funds, but the raid has raised eyebrows and ignited political tensions.
On December 19, six heavily armed officers, equipped with cameras and drones, stormed the monastery in search of Romanowski. By then, however, he had already been granted political asylum in Hungary. During the operation, police reportedly entered private areas of the monks’ quarters, photographing the scene.
The raid followed public prosecutors’ announcement two days earlier that Romanowski had fled the country. They confirmed an international arrest warrant had been issued, intensifying the search. However, the intrusion into a sacred space sparked fierce backlash.
Father Ludwik Wiśniewski of the Dominican order verified the raid to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) and vowed to file a formal complaint with Justice Minister Adam Bodnar. Critics, including the Lawyers for Poland association, argue the operation violated the Concordat agreement between Poland and the Vatican, which safeguards places of worship from state intervention unless there’s a dire threat to life, health, or property.
Adding to the controversy, Poland’s Ombudsman issued a scathing report on December 20, condemning the treatment of a Catholic priest, Father Olszewski, during a related fraud investigation. The priest, accused earlier this year, was reportedly subjected to unnecessary handcuffing, extended periods without food or water, and overall harsh treatment. The report labeled his detention as repressive and harassment-like.
The raid also drew sharp criticism from PiS members, including Joanna Borowiak, who likened the government’s actions to Communist-era tactics. “They even enter monasteries, sacred places that should remain inviolate. This is how Communists acted… Now they’re doing the same,” she told Niezależna.pl.
Romanowski faces allegations of misusing €25 million from the Justice Fund, funds intended to assist crime victims but allegedly diverted for political campaigning. After his parliamentary immunity was lifted in the summer, Romanowski was briefly detained. However, a court later overturned the detention, citing his additional immunity as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
This autumn, PACE immunity was revoked, leading to a Warsaw court ordering Romanowski’s three-month detention to prevent interference in the investigation. Despite these developments, Romanowski secured asylum in Hungary, claiming political persecution. “I’m ready to face the court, but I refuse to endure imprisonment under a political sanction,” he declared.
The raid has intensified divisions in Polish politics, with many questioning whether the government’s methods overstepped legal and ethical boundaries. Meanwhile, Romanowski’s asylum and accusations of political bias add an international dimension to this unfolding saga.
