Poland Charges Two Men with Spying for Belarus Regime
A 19-year-old Belarusian and a 44-year-old Pole have been charged with espionage after allegedly photographing and recording Belarusian opposition activists in Warsaw for Lukashenko's security services.
Polish security services announced on July 2 that two men have been charged with espionage after allegedly conducting surveillance on Belarus's exile community in Poland on behalf of the Lukashenko regime. The suspects, a 19-year-old Belarusian national identified as Aliaksei B. and a 44-year-old Polish citizen Rafał G., were detained on June 25 in Warsaw by officers from the Internal Security Agency (ABW).
According to Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for Poland's security services, the men were paid by Belarusian intelligence to attend events organized by Warsaw's Belarusian minority, where they recorded participants and photographed attendees. The gathered materials were then passed across the eastern border to be used by Lukashenko's security apparatus and the regime's propaganda machinery.
Poland's Large Belarusian Community
Belarusians represent Poland's second-largest foreign national group, numbering around 140,000 people. Among them are many opposition figures who fled persecution in Belarus following the disputed 2020 presidential election and subsequent crackdown on dissent. Warsaw has become a major hub for Belarusian civil society in exile, hosting numerous opposition organizations and independent media outlets.
The case highlights the ongoing security challenges posed by authoritarian regimes' attempts to monitor and intimidate political opponents who have found sanctuary in EU member states.
What This Means for Foreigners
If you're involved in political or civil society activities related to your home country while in Poland, be aware that some authoritarian governments actively monitor their diaspora communities. Poland's security services take such surveillance seriously and work to protect those who have sought refuge here. If you suspect you're being monitored or approached by intelligence operatives, contact the ABW or your embassy immediately.
Sources
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