The Polish judge’s escape to Belarus and his request for political asylum intrigued the Poles

Relations between Poland and Belarus have been strained for many years. However, they reached new heights after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that Polish judge T. Szmydtas requested political asylum from Belarusian leader Aliaksander Lukaenko.

This is an act of protest against Poland’s policies in relation to Belarus and Russia, T. Szmydtas said at a press conference in Belarus, where he quoted Belta.

T. Szmydts was close to the former ruling right-wing party Teis ir teškumas (PiS), which lost power to the current centrist coalition at the end of last year.

Grim Poland should be detained on the basis of a fabricated rape case, he said in a video published by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

It used to be difficult, but now it’s a matter of life and death, he said.

Varuva dutifully did not hide his surprise at this news.

In fact, I am surprised, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski told journalists.

We are already owners, I think this is a similar case, he added.

R. Sikorski meant Polish war Emil Czeczko, who in 2021 fled to Belarus.

Minsk dutifully indicated that in 2022 he was found dead in March.

Wladyslaw Kosiniak Kamysz, Poland’s defense minister, said he was awaiting a report on Szmydt and indicated that Varuva would investigate his past activities in the country.

If someone chooses Belarus, for what interests did he work for many years in Poland, on whose behalf?, W. KosiniakasKamyszas will ask.

Buying protection where A. Lukaenka reigns is not a natural direction, he thought.

Later on Monday, Polish prosecutors announced the opening of an investigation into kidnapping after T. Szmydtas fled to neighboring Belarus.

Prosecutors on the social network X say that they are conducting an investigation in connection with information that the judge requested political asylum in Belarus, based on the article of the Criminal Code, which talks about slander.

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