Polish national security at stake as judge who fled to Belarus possesses 'several classified documents'

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed Tuesday that a Polish judge, Tomasz Szmydt, who had access to classified information, had ties with Poland's former governing Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Szmydt, has sparked international intrigue after reportedly fleeing to Belarus and seeking political asylum amid allegations of espionage, which he vehemently denies.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed on Tuesday that Szmydt, who had access to classified information, had ties with Poland's former governing Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, declared on Monday that Szmydt had crossed its borders, exacerbating the already strained relations between Poland and Belarus, especially since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine.

Tusk expressed concern over the sensitive nature of the information to which Szmydt had access, stating: "We have to be aware that the Belarusian services are working with a person who had direct access to the (former) justice minister... and several classified documents that no intelligence service should be able to get their hands on at any cost."

Szmydt's connections with Poland's right-wing PiS party, which lost power last year, have raised suspicions, leading Warsaw prosecutors to launch an investigation into potential espionage.

Poland's ABW secret services are evaluating the extent of classified information Szmydt possessed. Tusk announced that a meeting of special services officials had been convened to address concerns about foreign influence within Poland's power apparatus.

"The question of the alleged influence of Russia and Belarus within the Polish power apparatus over recent years will be the subject of this meeting," Tusk said.

The crime of espionage carries a minimum sentence of eight years in Poland.

Szmydt's involvement in an online campaign targeting judges critical of PiS-led legal reforms has drawn attention, with the EU and Washington condemning these reforms as undermining judicial independence.

Media reports suggest that Szmydt has presided over cases involving sensitive information concerning NATO, the EU, and the European Space Agency. He has also held positions at the Ministry of Justice and the Trade and Companies Registry.

In a message released in Russian and Polish, Szmydt denounced the espionage accusations as "fabricated" and accused Polish authorities of being influenced by the United States and United Kingdom, alleging they were "leading the country to war."

Tensions between Poland and Belarus have escalated in recent years because of political crackdowns in Belarus and disputes over migrant policies. Relations hit a new low when Belarus supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that Szmydt sought asylum in Belarus, citing his dissatisfaction with Poland's stance towards Belarus and Russia.

Tusk cautioned on Tuesday that Belarusian and Russian intelligence services could target EU member states, including Poland, ahead of the European Parliament elections in early June.

"We need to be aware of this," Tusk emphasized, following discussions with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Katowice. "We should have no illusions as to the objective Moscow and Minsk have set themselves over the coming months."

Source: AFP