Key facts
- Polish security services arrested a Belarusian and a Polish citizen on suspicion of spying for Belarusian intelligence.
- The suspects allegedly monitored Belarusian exiles in Warsaw, gathering information on participants at events.
- The collected intelligence was passed to Belarusian services for regime propaganda purposes.
- The arrests are part of a larger ongoing investigation involving previously detained individuals.
- A court ordered pre-trial detention for the Belarusian citizen and supervision for the Polish citizen.
Polish security services have detained a Belarusian citizen and a Polish citizen on suspicion of spying for Belarusian intelligence services. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into espionage activities targeting Belarusian exiles in Poland.
According to Jacek Dobrzynski, a spokesperson for Polish security services, the detained individuals participated in events organized by the Belarusian minority in Warsaw, where they recorded and photographed attendees. The collected materials were reportedly passed across the eastern border and utilized by President Alexander Lukashenko's services and regime propaganda.
This latest detention is an expansion of a case initiated last November, which resulted in the arrests of three Belarusians and two Ukrainians. A court has ordered the 19-year-old Belarusian citizen to be held in custody for three months, while the 44-year-old Polish citizen is prohibited from leaving the country and remains under police supervision.
Poland has frequently accused Belarus and its ally Russia of conducting espionage and influence operations within its borders, allegations that both countries deny. The Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW) stated that foreign intelligence agencies aim not only to gather information but also to intimidate minority groups and amplify propaganda from hostile nations. A significant number of Belarusian dissidents have sought refuge in Poland since the crackdown on opposition movements following the disputed 2020 election.