Poland detains Belarusian suspected of spying for Minsk


WARSAW, Feb ⁠23 (Reuters) - Poland has detained a Belarusian ⁠man on suspicion of conducting espionage ‌on behalf of Minsk's military intelligence, prosecutors said on Monday, as Warsaw warns of ​Russian and Belarusian attempts to ⁠destabilise countries backing ⁠Ukraine.

Already strained relations between Warsaw and Minsk ⁠have ‌sunk to new lows since Belarus' ally, Russia, invaded ⁠Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The man, ​identified only ‌as Pavlov T. under Polish privacy ⁠laws, ​has been detained for three months and faces at least five years in ⁠prison if convicted, prosecutors ​said in a statement.

He has been charged with gathering intelligence for Minsk in ⁠NATO allies Poland, Germany and Lithuania. His activities include reconnaissance of critical infrastructure, including facilities important for the defence ​of Poland and ⁠NATO, the prosecutors said.

The Belarusian embassy in ​Warsaw did not ‌immediately respond to an ​emailed request for comment.

(Reporting by Anna Koper; Editing by Gareth Jones)

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