Reconnaissance of the area of the military airport in Biała Podlaska (Lubelskie) and collecting information about the facilities and vehicles of the Internal Security Agency – such tasks were to be carried out by Nikolay M. Belarusian, who admitted to espionage activities for the Belarusian intelligence services. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Just like Bernard Ś. – A Pole who admitted that he helped him.
– The indictment in this case was sent to the District Court in Lublin – says Beata Syk-Jankowska, spokeswoman for the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Lublin.
According to investigators' findings, the crimes occurred from 2018 (unspecified date) to February 24, 2023.
He collected information about military air operations
The prosecutor accuses the 53-year-old Belarusian of taking part in the activities of intelligence services acting for the Republic of Poland in Biała Podlaska and other towns in the Lublin Voivodeship. Belarus directed against the Republic of Poland.
According to the indictment, Nikolay M. undertook activities aimed at reconnaissance of the area of the military airport located in Biała Podlaska, collected information on military air operations carried out at this airport, as well as information on railway infrastructure and the movement of military equipment.
He determined what actions were taken by the Polish special services
He also collected information about facilities and vehicles at the disposal of the Internal Security Agency located and used in Biała Podlaska. According to prosecutors, the Belarusian also determined what actions were taken by the Polish special services in order to recruit other Belarusian citizens for their projects and to organize a communication channel with officers of the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
– When questioned as a suspect, Nikolay M. admitted to committing the crime he was accused of. He provided explanations confirming the circumstances indicated in the accusation, notes Syk-Jankowska.
Nikolay M. has been under temporary arrest since March 1, 2023.
Berdard Ś. organized the Belarusian's stay in Poland
The second defendant in this case is a Pole, 59-year-old retiree Bernard Ś., whom the prosecutor's office accuses of having foreseen the possibility that the Belarusian would commit the crime of espionage for Belarus, and provided him with help, among others. organized his stay in Poland and provided him with a place to live.
– Bernard Ś. interrogated as a suspect. He pleaded guilty to committing the act he was accused of. He provided explanations in accordance with the established facts – adds the spokeswoman.
A preventive measure was applied to the Pole in the form of a ban on leaving the country combined with the confiscation of his passport.
They face up to 10 years in prison
Syk-Jankowska says that the crime charged against the defendants was punishable by imprisonment from one to 10 years at the time it occurred.
Currently, following changes to the Penal Code, espionage, which is considered a crime, is punishable by no less than five years in prison.
Main photo source: PAP/Artur Reszko