Warsaw revokes passport of ex-judge who defected to Belarus

October 10, Pozirk. Authorities in Poland’s Masovian Voivodeship have granted a request by the National Public Prosecutor’s Office to revoke the passport of former Polish Judge Tomasz Szmydt, who defected to Belarus in May, Onet reported, citing information obtained by Gazeta Wyborcza.
The move significantly limits Szmydt’s ability to travel unless Minsk issues him a Belarusian passport, the report said.
Szmydt claimed that he was forced to leave Poland because of disagreement with the government’s policy. He also said that he “was persecuted and threatened for his independent political position.”
In 2019, he and his wife were reportedly involved in a smear campaign targeting judges who opposed judicial reforms by the Law and Justice (PiS) government that was in power in Poland at that time.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Belarusian secret services had recruited Szmydt a long time ago.

European arrest warrant issued for Polish judge who defected to Belarus
- PoliticsVon der Leyen to visit EU-Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus customs seize over 600 kg of psychoactive drugsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials tackle staff shortages with heavier workloads for teachersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsDana Holdings avoids EU sanctions – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyHouseholds’ disposable income up 6.6 percent in Q2 – BiełstatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyGovernment extends ban on certain Lithuanian importsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: reports point to hundreds of arrests in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomySecurities depository says holds $28.34bn in shares and bondsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsPakistan to check workers it sends to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics, SocietyСourts hold 10 field sessions over livestock deaths in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyUN committee calls on Belarus to take urgent measures to protect prisoner KulšaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOver 50 confirmed suspects in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy
- Society
- PoliticsŁukašenka offers to share Belarusian state building experience with MoldovaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: trial in absentia targets Wargaming co-founderThe material is available only to POZIRK+