– We can take it for granted that Tomasz Szmydt's departure was organized, said Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Zalewski (Poland 2050), referring to the case of a judge who applied for asylum to the Belarusian authorities. Presidential Minister Wojciech Kolarski assured that “all of us who treat Poland's security as a serious matter speak with one voice.”
The BiełTA news agency published on Monday a report from a press conference in which Tomasz Szmydt, a judge of the Provincial Administrative Court – involved in a hate scandal that aimed to slander judges opposed to the judicial reforms introduced by the United Right – announced that he was asking the Belarusian authorities for asylum .
The Internal Security Agency initiated inspection activities to verify the scope of classified information to which Szmydt had access as a judge of the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw in connection with his function and the cases he conducted. The National Prosecutor's Office conducts investigations into espionage.
This issue was addressed by the guests of Wednesday's edition of “Fakty po Faktach” – Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Zalewski (Poland 2050-TD) and Presidential Minister Wojciech Kolarski. Both are running in the June European Parliament elections.
Zalewski: we can take it for granted that Szmydt's trip was organized
Zalewski said that Szmydt's case “is dangerous because he is a person with a very high status who was very close to the people who ran the state.” – In fact, she was part of a group of the highest trust, so she had a great understanding of the mechanisms of power and decision-making – he said.
– Thanks to the fact that he is a judge, he had very important information, also on key issues, for example related to disputes between citizens who tried to gain access to classified information and the services that did not want to provide this access – he pointed out.
The Polish 2050 MP said that “this is certainly a person who, due to his professional and social position, is, unfortunately, a very dangerous Belarusian spy for us.” – It's hard to say, of course I don't want to judge when he started this cooperation, but we can assume that he cooperates and that his entire trip was organized – he added.
Zalewski: we can take it for granted that Szmydt's entire trip was organizedTVN24
Kolarski: the words of the presidential minister are the president's position
Kolarski assured that “all of us who treat Poland's security as a serious matter speak with one voice.”
– Minister Jacek Siewiera, head of the National Security Bureau, expressed the president's position on this matter. He said that we were dealing with betrayal. I would add that today this betrayal of the Polish state has a name and surname. And this is Tomasz Szmydt, he said.
To the comment that President Andrzej Duda did not make any statement on this matter, Kolarski replied that “fortunately, the state authorities are working properly here.” – This is the government's domain. The president, of course, expects detailed information. In this matter, he is in ongoing contact with the National Security Bureau, which in turn is in contact with the relevant services and the government – he emphasized.
Kolarski: all of us who treat Poland's security as a serious matter speak with one voiceTVN24
– However, clarifying this matter is the domain of the competent state authorities reporting to the Prime Minister. The president expects a precise report and the most precise determination of the facts as possible. This is a matter of our security, he said.
Kolarski assured that “the words of the presidential minister are the president's position.” – Today, I can repeat the words about betrayal once again here. This is the position of the Presidential Palace, this is the position of the president. This is obvious, he added.
Main photo source: TVN24