Speaking earlier today, Szmydt praised Belarus as being “an open and friendly country” and credited the Belarusian President, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, with bringing stability to the region.

Reading from a pre-prepared statement, Szmydt resigned from his position as judge and told journalists that he would first “like to rest a bit.” Expanding on his position, he told members of the press that he had left Poland “as a result of his opposition to the policies and actions of the authorities.”

Continuing, he added that he had been “persecuted and intimidated for his independent political stance.” Szmydt also pressed Polish politicians to resume dialogue with Russia and Belarus before accusing the US and Great Britain of leading Poland down the road to war.

Previously, Szmydt had been part of a group that sought to discredit judges who opposed the judicial changes introduced by the then Law and Justice (PiS) government. According to a 2019 report by Onet, Szmydt was a key member of a WhatsApp group that swapped ideas on how best to damage the reputation of certain judges.

His apparent defection to Belarus has been met with hostility.

Roman Giertych, an MP of the current ruling coalition, wrote on X: “I think that this is not the first case in which the PiS ‘elites’ seek asylum.”

The former Secretary of State, Stanisław Żaryn, wrote: “Traitor. Now this judge will become a star of Russian and Belarusian propaganda.”

Żaryn added: “This type of action is part of a hybrid war against Poland. It is a betrayal of the Republic of Poland.”