Officers of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) detained, on suspicion of espionage, a citizen of Spain of Russian origins. The man is accused of participating in foreign intelligence activities against Poland, Stanisław Żaryn, the Spokesperson of the Minister-Special Services Coordinator, informed.
As the niezalezna.pl found out, the court has granted the prosecutor’s request and has provisionally arrested the suspect. The arrest took place in a hotel room on the premises of Przemyśl. He was identified as a GRU agent, and in Poland, he was a journalist.
“The vast evidence has been secured, which now undergoes a detailed analysis. The man is accused of participation in the activities of foreign intelligence services against the Republic of Poland, which is punishable by 10 years of imprisonment. On the basis of the court’s decision, he has been temporarily arrested for 3 months,” Stanisław Żaryn confirms.
Investigators found that the arrested man was engaged in espionage activities in Warsaw, Przemyśl, Medyka and other cities in the Republic of Poland. He was also active in Ukraine and other countries.
“The man was identified as an agent of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). He used his journalistic status for Russia. This allowed him to move freely in Europe and the world, including in areas of conflict and political tension. The prisoner spent several days in the podkarpackie Voivodeship. During his stay in Poland, he received information the use of which by the Russian secret services could have a direct negative impact on the internal, external and defence of our country,” Spokesperson of the Minister-Special Services Coordinator informed.
Stanisław Żaryn also pointed out that the man had been detained in Przemyśl on the night of 27 to 28 February 2022. He was identified as an agent of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU).
“He carried out operations for the benefit of Russia, profiting from his status as a journalist, which enabled him to freely travel around the world and Europe, including military conflict zones and territories marked with political tensions,” Żaryn wrote.