Global Courant
Polish authorities say they have detained a Russian hockey player who played in a top Polish league on suspicion of espionage
Warsaw, Poland — Polish authorities have detained a Russian hockey player who played in a top Polish league on suspicion of espionage, officials said Friday.
“Russian spies are attacking one by one!” said Zbigniew Ziobro, the justice minister and chief prosecutor. “A spy operating under the guise of an athlete was caught.”
Ziobro said the suspect was the 14th member of an espionage network to be arrested in the NATO country.
The national prosecutor’s office said the man, who was arrested on June 11, was charged with participating in an organized crime group and acting on behalf of foreign intelligence agencies against Poland’s interests. Such acts are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The suspect regularly passed on information “on the results of his reconnaissance operations, for which he was regularly paid,” according to a statement from the Special Services Office in the Prime Minister’s Office.
According to the statement, the group of spies was used by the Russians to carry out intelligence activities, including monitoring railways and spreading propaganda targeting NATO and Poland.
“The suspects also prepared acts of sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence. The entire ring was paid for the tasks performed,” it said.
Poland is an important hub for Western weapons going to Ukraine in support of the fight against the Russian invasion.
Poland detains Russian hockey player on suspicion of espionage
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