On Monday, the trial of Maxim L. and Uladzislaua P., whose prosecution accuses of participating in an organized criminal group and spying on Russia, began before the Lublin territory Court. According to the prosecution, members of this group were active in installing cameras along railway routes, monitoring airports and seaports.
Prosecutor Piotr Lopatyński of the National Prosecutor's Office at the beginning of the trial accused 23-year-old Maxim L. and 30-year-old Uladzislau P. of participating in a "organised group aimed at committing crimes against Poland, consisting in conducting an intelligence operation aimed at obtaining information on key infrastructure", the leader of which was "Andrej", an identity which was not established.
The prosecutor reported that between January and March 2023 the defendants were observing Jasionka airport, Rzeszów railway station and installing cameras along railway routes utilized to transport military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In addition, Uladzislau P. was to monitor seaports in Gdańsk and Gdynia.
Maxim L. and Uladzislau P. were besides accused of cooperating with abroad intelligence, i.e. the V Service of Operational Information and Contacts of the global national safety Service of the Russian Federation, operating against Poland.
"Maxim L. confessed," said Ukrainian in court, expressing regret for his engagement in the group's activities. "I regret that I was active in what I did not understand," he added.
The lawyer Maxim L., Krzysztof Dmowski, stated that his client intends to voluntarily surrender his conviction and accept a conviction of six years imprisonment, a fine of PLN 15 1000 and a confiscation of PLN 20.5 thousand. The prosecutor did not object to this motion.
Uladzislau P. besides confessed to part of the charges, expressing remorse for his actions. justice Mirosław Brzozowski suspended the proceeding until June 19, erstwhile Maxim L. will be able to formally apply for voluntary surrender and Uladzislau P. will gotta take a decision on this matter.
After the trial ended, Uladzislaua P.'s partner tried to take him into the corridor of the court, but was stopped by the police.
An investigation conducted by the Agency for interior safety under the supervision of the Lublin Office of the National Prosecutor's Office showed that 16 citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia participated in intelligence activities against Poland, operating at least from January to June 2023, including in Biała Podlaska, Chełma, Medicine, Przemysl, Rzeszów and Gdańsk. Suspects were detained in various locations in Poland between 3 March and 1 August last year.
Prosecutor Lopatyński described in the indictment that members of this group were communicating through the application A telegram with a man who introduced himself as Andrei, Andrew or Gabriel K., and another people utilizing different aliases specified as “Barbados”, “Pink”, “Mara” or “Secret Chat”.
"Andrej, the leader of the group's actions, planned to derail a train carrying military cargo in Poland and Ukraine. For this purpose, he sought members of the group and people outside it who would agree to do this task for a fee of $10,000," wrote the prosecutor.
The individual members of the group were engaged, among others, in purchasing camera parts, acquiring and activating SIM cards, observing and recording selected objects utilizing mobile phones, installing GPS transmitters on trains, recruiting fresh members, transferring salaries and disinformation activities.
According to investigators, members of the group observed, among others, airports in Jasionka and Gdynia-Kosaków, railway station in Rzeszów, seaports in Gdańsk and Gdynia, mechanical plants in Bumar-Łabada in Gliwice, military unit in Przemyśl, and terminal on the Polish-Ukrainian border in Malhowice-Nizankowice. They installed cameras on railway routes, which, according to services, could be utilized both to monitor military aid to Ukraine and to set dates and circumstances for its delivery. Members of the group besides painted graffiti, printed and distributed flyers with anti-Natov and anti-Ukrainian content.
For the performance of circumstantial tasks – according to the investigation – the group members received a payment of $5 for the suspension of the flyer, by $300-400 for installing the camera, up to $10,000 for attempting to derail the train. Payments were received in the form of cryptocurrency.
In November 2023, an act of prosecution against 16 suspected spies in Poland and participation in an organized criminal group was sent to the Lublin territory Court. Most of the defendants admitted to committing alleged acts and made voluntary statements. They received sentences from 6 years to 1 year and 1 period imprisonment. The court besides ordered them to pay the fine from 20 1000 to 1 1000 zlotys and to return the money obtained as a consequence of the crime.
On 19 December last year, the court decided to exclude the case of Maxim L. and Uladzislaua P. from separate proceedings due to the withdrawal of the conviction application without trial.
For participating in an organized crime group, a conviction of up to 8 years is punishable.
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The trial of Ukrainian and Belarusian for espionage for Russia has begun
