Poland detains Russian hockey player on suspicion of spying
Polish authorities say they have arrested a Russian hockey player who competed in a top Polish league on suspicion of espionage.
Warsaw, Poland — Polish authorities have arrested a Russian hockey player who competed in a top Polish league on suspicion of espionage, officials said Friday.
“Russian spies are falling one by one!” Zbigniew Ziobro, justice minister and chief prosecutor said. “A spy operating under the guise of an athlete has been arrested.”
Ziobro said the suspect was the 14th member of a spy network to have been arrested in the NATO country.
The National Prosecutor’s Office said the man was arrested on June 11, charged with participating in an organized crime group and acting on behalf of foreign intelligence against Polish interests. Such acts are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The suspect regularly relays information “about the results of spying activities for which he is regularly paid”, a statement released by the special services office in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The statement said the spy group was used by the Russians to conduct intelligence activities, including monitoring railways and spreading propaganda targeting NATO and Poland.
“The suspects also prepared acts of sabotage on the orders of Russian intelligence. The entire ring was paid for the tasks performed,” it said.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western arms to Ukraine to aid in the fight against the Russian invasion.
