{"id":84622,"date":"2024-05-10T13:11:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T10:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/84622\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"polish-court-dismisses-judge-suspected-of-espionage-for-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/84622\/","title":{"rendered":"Polish court dismisses judge suspected of espionage for Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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May 10, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The head of the Polish Supreme Administrative Court accepted the resignation of Judge Tomasz Szmydt on May 9, three days after he defected to Belarus, Sylwester Marciniak, communications officer at the court, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, Polish prosecutors launched an investigation on suspicion of Szmydt’s involvement in foreign intelligence activities, stripping the judge of immunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Belarusian secret services worked with Szmidt much longer than \u201ca few months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar said the ex-judge may be put on an international wanted list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Szmydt submitted an unofficial asylum request in Belarus on May 6, saying he was forced to leave Poland because of disagreement with the government\u2019s policy. He claimed that he \u201cwas persecuted and threatened for his independent political position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pole asked Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka for protection and announced his resignation at a press conference hosted by BelTA, a state-run news agency in Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler said on May 9 that he would provide security for Szmydt, describing him as \u201ca normal, patriotic Pole.\u201d He dismissed the spying allegations as nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relations between Belarus and Poland are currently at a low point with tension persisting over the political persecution of ethnic Poles in Belarus, Minsk\u2019s alleged role in facilitating illegal migration from Asia and Africa into Poland and \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s anti-Polish rhetoric and support for the Russian war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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