Tomasz Szmydt. An archive photo
MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – The former Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt, who faces political persecution in Poland, made a few comments to a BelTA reporter after hearing the news he had been granted asylum in Belarus
Tomasz Szmydt said: “I am very glad. You are the first person to tell me about it. I thank the president of Belarus. It is very important for me. Belarus is now my country, too. I respect your president and Belarusians very much. Belarusians are honest people. I have never had problems due to the fact that I am a Pole. The Belarus president is a very important person, a very smart politician. He is deeply respected. I am a simple man and very glad that the president has heard my request. Your president is a very good person.”
Tomasz Szmydt admitted that he feels more like a Belarusian than a Pole. “Poland and all the countries of the European Union have warrants for me. Seriously? A person comes, wants to live in Belarus, has harmed no one, and has violated no law. And what have they done to me? Am I a spy? What proves it? There is no proof. My passport has been annulled. I have an arrest warrant in the European Union. What law have I broken? None. In my opinion, Poland will face economic problems in the future. It will be a problem for people in Poland. What are prices for natural gas, gasoline over there? Look them up. And in Belarus one can work and live in calm.”
Tomasz Szmydt mentioned what he intends to do in Belarus. “I have already made the first step: I work with BelTA, with the international radio service Belarus. As the second step I intend to smooth international relations between Belarus and countries of the European Union. I would like to work on that,” he added.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed decrees on granting citizenship and on granting asylum on 22 November. The president granted asylum to Tomasz Szmydt, who faces political persecution in Poland.
Tomasz Szmydt is a judge of the 2nd Department of the Voivodeship Administrative Court of Warsaw. Previously, he held various positions in the judiciary and justice system of Poland. He was the head of the legal department at the National Council of Judiciary of Poland. Due to disagreement with the policy and actions of the authorities, he was forced to leave Poland in May 2024 and asked for protection from the Belarusian authorities. He is currently in Belarus. He was persecuted and threatened for his independent political position.
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