Tusk: The Polish judge who escaped to Belarus had access to classified information

Belarus announced on Monday that the Polish judge Tomasz Schmidt has crossed the Belarusian border.

“We have to be aware that the Belarusian services are working with a person who had direct access to the (former) Minister of Justice (..) and several secret documents,” which should never be in the hands of foreign intelligence services, Tusk told reporters.

Schmidt had close ties to the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was in power until the end of last year. After his escape to Belarus, the prosecutor’s office opened an investigation against him for alleged espionage. Poland’s secret services said separately that they were looking into exactly what classified information the judge had access to.

Espionage in Poland is punishable by at least eight years in prison.

Tusk told reporters that the judge has long-standing ties to Belarus, and it’s not just about the last few months.

Schmidt and his ex-wife engaged in an online campaign against judges who opposed PiS’ reforms in the judicial sector. The European Union (EU) and Washington concluded that these reforms undermine the independence of Poland’s judiciary.

Schmidt announced on Monday that the accusations of espionage were fabricated, and also expressed his belief that the Polish authorities “are leading the country to war under the influence of the United States and Great Britain.”

The Belarusian propaganda agency “Belta” reported on Monday that Schmidt has requested asylum in Belarus.

Tusk warned that the secret services of Belarus and Russia could target EU countries before the upcoming European Parliament elections in early June. “We should have no illusions about the goal that Moscow and Minsk have set for the coming months,” Tusk warned.