- Category
- Latest news
Poland Charges 6 Over Foreign Intelligence Sabotage Plot Linked to Russia and Belarus
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Polish prosecutors have brought charges against six individuals suspected of carrying out sabotage and subversive activities on behalf of foreign intelligence services. Among the accused are three Polish and three Belarusian nationals.
According to Reuters on August 13, citing Polish prosecutors, the charges include sabotage ordered by foreign intelligence agencies. Poland has claimed that its role as a key hub for aid to Ukraine has made it a target for Russian and Belarusian special services, accusing Moscow and Minsk of acts of sabotage such as arson. Both Russia and Belarus have denied these allegations.
The investigation was prompted by evidence uncovered during a separate probe into the activities of Ukrainian citizen Serhii S., who was imprisoned earlier this year for planning sabotage on behalf of Russia.
“The evidence obtained in this case indicated a suspicion that an organised criminal group operating in Poland engaged in recruitment and organisation of sabotage activities for foreign intelligence agenciess,” a prosecution spokesperson said.
According to the spokesperson, the operations of the foreign intelligence services were intended to incite public unrest and create a sense of helplessness among state authorities through sabotage and subversive acts.
The accused have been identified as Polish citizens Kamil K., Dawid P., and Lukasz K., as well as Belarusian citizens Stepan K., Andrei B., and Yaroslav S.
The indictment includes, among other cases, an arson attack allegedly ordered by a foreign intelligence service at a pallet warehouse in Marki, an attempted arson at a warehouse in Gdańsk in March 2024, and arson attacks on a restaurant in Gdynia in 2023.
Four of the defendants face charges of sabotage carried out at the request of foreign intelligence, along with additional charges related to arms trafficking, illegal drug trade, and other criminal offenses.
The prosecution noted that Stepan K. and Dawid P. pleaded not guilty. Andrei B., Yaroslav S., and Lukasz K. partially admitted guilt, while Kamil K. pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
Earlier, Polish authorities charged a Belarusian national with offering to cooperate with the Belarusian KGB and participate in sabotage operations within the European Union.
