Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt asked for protection in Belarus during a press conference at the BelTA press centre on May 6, Belarusian media reported.
I would like to allow myself to address directly to President [of Belarus] Alexander Lukashenko. I really apologise for my boldness, but I will allow myself to ask for guardianship, protection of the president and Belarus in general.
Tomasz Szmydt is a judge of the 2nd Department of the Voivodeship Administrative Court of Warsaw. He previously held various positions in the Polish judiciary, including head of the legal department at the National Council of Judges of Poland.
Due to his disagreement with the policy and actions of the authorities, he was forced to leave Poland. He is currently residing in Belarus. He was persecuted and threatened for his independent political position, according to the media.
Szmydt protested to the Polish authorities, allegedly influenced by outside voices that could lead the country to war. He also signed a statement at a press conference in Minsk to resign as a judge.
