The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Alexander Chesnovsky, the Charge d’affaires at the Belarusian Embassy in Warsaw, to address the detention of individuals in Belarus who are suspected of conducting espionage on behalf of the Russian Federation. This development was reported by the radio station’s website RMF, underscoring the seriousness with which Warsaw views foreign intelligence activities on its own doorstep and the surrounding region.
The publication notes that the Belarusian diplomat faced protests from Belarusian citizens and residents who criticized his role in what authorities characterize as foreign intelligence operations. The protests reflected public concern about how diplomatic officeholders may influence or conceal covert activities that affect regional security and bilateral relations.
On the eve of a public statement by President Alexander Lukashenko regarding Ukrainian individuals allegedly using diplomatic cover for espionage, the incident in question takes on added geopolitical significance. Officials in Minsk have repeatedly invoked the concept of diplomatic immunity and cover in discussions about intelligence activity, which continues to shape Belarus’s interactions with neighboring states and international partners.
Earlier, Belarus announced a reduction in the number of Ukrainian diplomats stationed in the country to five and reported the closure of the Brest Consulate General. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic highlighted a series of actions since 2020 described as hostile, aimed at disrupting interstate relations, commercial links, and the long-standing ties between people across borders. The statement framed these moves as part of a broader pattern in relations with Ukraine and the region.
In another development, it was reported that the Polish Internal Security Agency had detained nine foreigners accused of espionage for the Russian Federation. The authorities indicated that the detainees were engaged in activities that harmed Poland and were allegedly directed to carry out sabotage under orders from Russian intelligence services. This sequence of events adds to a tense landscape in which security agencies monitor and respond to suspected foreign influence and covert operations on both sides of the border.
Officials emphasized that the individuals in custody were actively working against Poland and were prepared to execute sabotage as part of a broader espionage scheme orchestrated by foreign intelligence networks. The disclosures align with ongoing efforts by Warsaw to safeguard national security, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain trust in diplomatic channels amid escalating concerns about foreign interference in European affairs.