TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus has extended asylum to Tomasz Szmydt, a former Polish judge who is facing espionage charges in his home country after his defection to Belarus in May. This development comes as a decree from Alexander Lukashenko, the ruling president of Belarus, characterized Szmydt’s legal troubles in Poland as politically motivated. Poland, a member of both the EU and NATO, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine amid ongoing Russian threats.
Szmydt’s move to Belarus has brought attention to Poland’s vulnerability to Russian intelligence operations and sparked intense political debate concerning his swift rise within the Polish judicial system. Following reports in Belarusian media that Szmydt sought protection after arriving in the country, Polish officials initiated an investigation in May. This led to Szmydt being placed on a list of wanted persons in Poland, a preliminary step which could result in an international arrest warrant tied to allegations of espionage, consequently limiting his ability to travel.
Poland’s government has been anxious to assess any potential damage that Szmydt’s knowledge of sensitive information could inflict on Polish national interests and those of its allies. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has openly labeled him a traitor, emphasizing the serious implications of his actions.
Szmydt left his position as a judge on the Warsaw Administrative Court, expressing in a public announcement his protest against Poland’s “unjust and harmful” policies toward Belarus and Russia. Following his defection, he appeared at a press conference, where he aligned himself with Lukashenko’s administration and claimed to be a victim of persecution.
Later in May, a Polish court revoked Szmydt’s judicial immunity, opening the door for his prosecution in absentia on espionage charges he has denied. Szmydt gained notoriety in 2019 for leading an online smear campaign against his fellow judges, an initiative that received backing from the Justice Ministry under a previous right-wing administration. However, in 2022, he appeared in a television documentary, leveling accusations against judges who he claimed exhibited unethical conduct while being closely tied to the ruling party.
His sudden defection surprised many in Poland, a nation that historically harbors skepticism toward Russia. Meanwhile, Belarus has positioned itself as one of Russia’s only steadfast allies following the military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Lukashenko leaning heavily on Moscow for financial assistance and backing. In exchange, he has permitted Russia to utilize Belarusian territory for troop movements and the storage of military resources, including the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons.
With a presidential election approaching in January, where Lukashenko aims to secure a seventh term, the Belarusian government has intensified its crackdown on dissent. More than 600 individuals showing support for Ukraine have been detained in recent months. The aftermath of the 2020 presidential polls, widely deemed fraudulent, resulted in massive protests quashed by the government, leading to the arrest of approximately 65,000 people and forcing many opposition leaders into exile. Human rights groups report that around 1,300 political prisoners remain in detention in Belarus.