Interpol refused to pursue a red notice after Polish former judge Tomasz Szmydt, who fled to Belarus and has been accused of spying. A spokesperson for Polish police Katarzyna Nowak told Polish Press Agency (PAP) that Interpol has refused to issue the notice because it does "not allow processing through its channels of information related to actions against state security classified as political crimes".
Tomasz Szmydt fled to Belarus and on May 6 asked the Belarusian authorities for "care and protection". He said at a press conference in Minsk he was forced to leave Poland because he was opposed to actions of the Polish government.
On May 9, the disciplinary court of the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) lifted Szmydt's immunity and allowed for his arrest and temporary detention. The following day, the National Public Prosecutor's Office charged Szmydt with espionage.
Polish prosecutors submitted a request to place Szmydt on Interpol's Red Notice list in late May.
"Interpol refused to issue a Red Notice for judge Tomasz Szmydt because it does not allow the processing of data through its channels for actions against state security classified as political crimes," spokesperson for Polish police central headquarters Katarzyna Nowak told PAP on Tuesday.
Interpol indicated that crimes of espionage fall within the scope of article 3 of its statute, which states that: "It is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character."
Interpol Red Notice
Interpol explains at its official website that: "A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant."
"The individuals are wanted by the requesting member country, or international tribunal. Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person," it adds.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP