Russia jails man over spying for Poland one day after Warsaw foils assassination plot

Russia Jails Man Over Spying for Poland Amid Rising Tensions

Poinews.com – Russia jails man over spying for Poland in a significant development that comes just one day after Warsaw foiled an assassination plot. A Russian court has sentenced Georgy Pirogov to 23 years in a high-security penal colony for espionage on behalf of Polish intelligence services. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the verdict on Thursday, following Poland’s announcement that it had detained a Russian national suspected of planning a killing in the capital city of Warsaw.

According to the FSB, Pirogov left Russia after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He established contact with a representative of Polish military intelligence in April 2022 and was subsequently tasked with collecting and passing classified information about Russian weapons used in the ongoing conflict. The FSB’s statement did not explain when or how Pirogov returned to Russia or provide any evidence to back its claims regarding his espionage activities.

Assassination Plot Foiled in Warsaw

On Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that a Russian citizen had been detained on 7 August on suspicion of preparing an assassination in Warsaw. Tusk stated that Russian security services had recruited the suspect and added that the Kremlin chose the intended target because it saw him as a threat. “He was inconvenient from the point of view of Putin’s regime,” Tusk explained during his press conference.

The Polish premier declined to name the target, citing legal restrictions that prevent public disclosure of ongoing investigations. Meanwhile, Pirogov’s trial opened in May and was held behind closed doors. The FSB said he used contacts in Russia’s defence industry to obtain restricted information on the production and use of missile systems, as well as personal data of individuals with access to state secrets.

The indictment also alleged that Pirogov made cryptocurrency transfers to support Ukraine’s armed forces, bought equipment and organised its delivery from Poland to Ukraine. The independent Russian outlet Mediazona reported that Pirogov moved to Georgia after the invasion began and worked as an industrial climber, citing relatives and human rights activists. In the summer of 2024 he travelled to Uzbekistan on a business trip and then disappeared.

In July 2024 it emerged he was being held at Matrosskaya Tishina remand prison in Moscow. Independent Russian media said they did not know who detained him or under what circumstances he was brought back to Russia. Russia has significantly expanded its espionage and treason laws since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The maximum sentence for treason rose from 20 to 25 years after legislative changes in 2022 and 2023, and the definition of state treason was broadened to cover a wider range of contacts with foreign states and organisations. The FSB has also been given expanded powers to detain and prosecute individuals suspected of espionage without the same evidentiary threshold previously required. Treason cases in Russia numbered in the single digits annually before 2014, when Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea prompted the first significant spike.

Last year, almost 500 people, including Ukrainian citizens, were convicted in Russia on espionage and treason charges. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Poland has become one of Ukraine’s most significant military supporters, providing weapons, ammunition and training. Poland also hosts a large US military presence.

Warsaw has expelled Russian diplomats and closed the Russian consulate in Kraków over espionage concerns. Poland’s counter-intelligence services have reported a major increase in Russian malign interference, including sabotage and recruitment operations on Polish soil since 2022, targeting infrastructure, Ukrainian diaspora networks and individuals critical of the Kremlin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the sentence given to Georgy Pirogov? A: Pirogov was sentenced to 23 years in a high-security penal colony for spying for Polish intelligence services.

Q: When was the assassination plot in Warsaw foiled? A: The plot was foiled on 7 August 2026, when a Russian citizen was detained in Warsaw.

Q: How has Russia’s treason law changed since 2022? A: The maximum sentence for treason rose from 20 to 25 years, and the definition was broadened to cover more contacts with foreign states.

Q: What role has Poland played in supporting Ukraine? A: Poland has become one of Ukraine’s most significant military supporters, providing weapons, ammunition, and training since the full-scale invasion.

For more updates on this developing story, visit Euronews for comprehensive coverage of Russia-Poland relations and espionage developments.