Hungary slams Poland’s diplomatic snub over dispute involving asylum case

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has condemned Poland's decision to exclude the Hungarian ambassador from a key ceremony marking the launch of Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

He described the move as "pathetic and childish" in a brief statement, responding to the diplomatic standoff between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Hungarian media.

Szijjártó's comments were made in reaction to Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s decision to withhold an invitation to Hungary's ambassador to attend a gala evening to mark the start of Poland's EU presidency. Szijjártó stated that Sikorski's actions could be defined as "pathetic" and "childish," accusing Poland of responding inappropriately to Hungary’s decision regarding Marcin Romanowski.

The dispute centres around Hungary's decision to grant asylum to Romanowski, Poland's former deputy justice minister, who is facing criminal charges back in Poland, including embezzling state property. Hungary has argued that the charges against Romanowski are politically motivated, claiming he is being persecuted by the current Polish government. In response, Poland expressed outrage over Hungary’s action, leading to this diplomatic row.

As a protest, the Polish Foreign Ministry decided not to invite the Hungarian ambassador to the ceremonial event on January 1, marking the beginning of Poland's six-month presidency of the EU Council. Poland assumed the presidency from Hungary, taking over the leadership role for the first half of 2025.

Polish Deputy Minister for EU Affairs, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, emphasized that Hungary's ambassador would not be welcome at the event, signalling the heightened tensions between the two countries. Poland's government has made clear its disapproval of Hungary’s actions, considering Romanowski's asylum as a violation of Poland's national interests and legal proceedings.

By Tamilla Hasanova