State prosecutor's office: former judge Szmydt on wanted list

Spokesperson Przemysław Nowak told PAP on Thursday that a wanted notice has been issued after Szmydt. The previous day, a court agreed to issue an arrest warrant after the former judge.

The prosecutor leading the investagation regarding Szmydt is currently analyzing the conditions the court needs to issue the European Arrest Warrant.

"It's not so obvious whether these conditions are met. If it (the court) decides the conditions have been met and that there chances for the EAW to be issued, then I think it will be a matter of days," Nowak said.

He reminded that Szmydt is facing espionage charges.

Nowak stressed that the Polish authorities cannot conduct their activities in Belarus. "We can only aid ourselves with international instruments, that is international search, which may or may not be effective depending on certain regulations and the goodwill of the Belarusian side," he said, adding that Poland could also file an extradition request.

He added that prosecutors investigating Szmydt's case will cooperate with Interpol. "We will also strive to use other available databases that will help us to determine or substantiate whether Tomasz Szmydt has crossed the border in a different direction than the European Union, but if it is the direction of the European Union, we will receive such information immediately.

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.