Tomas Schmidt.Photo: reform.
Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree granting former Polish judge Tomasz Schmidt political asylum in Belarus. Schmidt, who is accused of espionage, fled to Belarus in early May 2024 after being accused of participating in a hybrid war against Poland. He also became a subject of an international wanted list on charges of espionage and treason, which led to his arrest in Poland and the issuance of a European arrest warrant. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, based on the materials of the Polish edition of Rmf24.
Switching sides: how Schmidt became the “face” of Belarusian politics
Schmidt, who had been in Belarus since his escape, quickly became the focus of attention when he appeared at a press conference in Minsk. After officially announcing his resignation, he began to appear on Belarusian and Russian channels, where he expressed support for pro-Russian propaganda. During this time, he gave numerous interviews to Kremlin propagandists such as Vladimir Solovyov and appeared on their shows. Schmidt also founded the Polish Pravda Foundation, which aims to inform about the activities of European politicians and their ties to foreign intelligence services, including Russian ones. His statements on Ukraine and support for Lukashenko’s dictatorial regime raise serious questions about his true motives.
Poland’s reaction: the European arrest warrant and the political context of the case
Poland has been actively opposing Schmidt, accusing him of espionage and threatening national security. The Warsaw District Court has issued a European arrest warrant for him, but extradition seems unlikely due to the fact that Belarus is not a member of the EU. In addition, Interpol refused to issue a red notice for Schmidt’s arrest, noting that the case has a clear political context. Belarus, in its turn, actively supports Schmidt by granting him asylum, claiming that he is a victim of political persecution.
Changes in Belarus and Schmidt’s role in the war of information fronts
Against the backdrop of the political crisis in Belarus, Schmidt has become a vivid example of how countries under the influence of the Kremlin use individuals who support their interests to manipulate the information sphere. Due to his popularity among Belarusian and Russian media, he has become a powerful tool of anti-Western propaganda. His activity in creating fake information and abusing his status as an “oppositionist” only strengthens Minsk’s position in the international context, trying to weaken Europe from within.
Prospects: what lies ahead for Schmidt and Poland
In the future, the situation with Tomasz Schmidt is likely to become even more complicated, as Poland and Belarus remain in a confrontation that goes beyond this incident. It is important for European countries to strengthen the fight against such cases and establish more effective cooperation to counter espionage, disinformation and propaganda, which is becoming more and more threatening to stability on the continent every year.
