In Poland, the prosecutor's office brought charges against two citizens of the Russian Federation, associated with the group Wagner. Andrei G. and Alex T. are accused of participating in the activities of foreign intelligence and waging hybrid warfare on the territory of Poland.
The men were detained by officers of the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW) in Warsaw. The defendants face up to 10 years in prison.
The investigation found that in August 2023, citizens of the Russian Federation in public places in Krakow and Warsaw recruited Polish citizens and foreigners to serve in a mercenary military organization banned by international law, the Wagner Group.
"On the territory of Krakow and Warsaw, the defendants posted hundreds of recruitment stickers, through which they established contact with those responsible for the recruitment and organization," said Polish Prosecutor's Office spokesman Przemyslaw Nowak.
The investigation revealed that the defendants operated in Poland and other European countries, ABW said on its website.
The charges brought against the Russians relate to espionage, participation in an international armed alliance aimed at committing terrorist crimes, calls to a banned military mercenary organization, as well as the use or dissemination of symbols in support of Russian aggression in Ukraine and propaganda actions aimed at destabilizing the political situation and causing damage to Poland.
The Krakow District Court applied to the detainees a measure of restraint in the form of temporary arrest. The men are currently in custody. If their guilt is proven, Andriy G. and Alex T. face up to 10 years in prison.
