Zbigniew Ziobro has been detained at Warsaw airport and taken to parliament where he admitted approving the purchase of Pegasus Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro was arrested on Monday at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport and brought before a parliamentary commission investigating the use of Israeli-made Pegasus spyware during his time in office. The politician, who served as justice minister and prosecutor general under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government between 2015 and 2023, has repeatedly refused to testify before the commission, arguing that it is unconstitutional and politically motivated.A Warsaw court earlier this year authorized Ziobro’s detention and forced appearance, citing nine previous no-shows. However, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, led by PiS ally Bogdan Swieczkowski, has ruled the commission unlawful and barred actions against him. Despite this, police detained Ziobro on Monday as he stepped off a delayed flight from Brussels and escorted him to the Sejm. He denounced the move as illegal, telling officers they would bear responsibility before the court.During the hearing, Ziobro condemned the panel as arrogant, aggressive, and in breach of proper legal standards. He demanded the removal of all members and specifically chairwoman Magdalena Sroka, claiming political bias. His motions were rejected. He maintained that the inquiry “has nothing to do with a reasonable pursuit of the truth.” Ziobro also acknowledged that he initiated the purchase of the Pegasus system, saying he urged then security chief Mariusz Kaminski to acquire the software to track encrypted online communications. “Pegasus served to pursue criminals, not political opponents. It was a good decision based on an analysis of the situation,” he told lawmakers.Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, however, has alleged that the spyware was used to monitor nearly 600 people between 2017 and 2022, including opposition politicians and their campaign teams. The commission is examining who approved the purchase in 2017 for the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and how it was used by state institutions.PiS ruled Poland from 2015 until late 2023, when Tusk’s Civic Platform-led coalition took power. The new administration has launched multiple inquiries into alleged abuses by its predecessor, including claims that PiS spent substantial sums to finance covert surveillance of political rivals.