Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is planning to enact more stringent penalties for espionage in response to the escalating espionage activities following the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a PiS Member of Parliament who spoke to the Polish Press Agency on Monday.
The proposed measures entail the introduction of a minimum five-year prison sentence for aiding foreign intelligence, an eight-year to life imprisonment for divulging sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies, a minimum eight-year imprisonment for engaging in disinformation campaigns on behalf of foreign intelligence services, a ten-year to life imprisonment for acts of sabotage and terrorist activities, and a 10-year to life imprisonment for organizing and overseeing foreign intelligence operations.
Jaroslaw Krajewski emphasized that stricter penalties were deemed necessary due to the mounting espionage activities associated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“The implementation of harsher penalties is crucial to ensure the enhanced security of Polish citizens,” stated Krajewski.
A bill proposing these more severe penalties, drafted by the PiS, is scheduled to undergo its first reading in the Sejm (the lower house of parliament) between June 13 and 16.