In Warsaw on January 28, a senior member of the Polish government accused Russia of attempting to recruit Poles on the dark net to influence Poland's presidential election campaign.
Poland, a member of the European Union and NATO, has previously warned about Russian interference in the upcoming election in mid-May. However, Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in foreign elections.
Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that Russia was seeking Polish citizens willing to impact the campaign from within the country. They were offered 3,000-4,000 euros ($3,130-$4,170) to disseminate disinformation.
Gawkowski revealed that recruitment was conducted through the dark net, an internet segment accessible only using specialized web browsers. He noted that Poland has been monitoring such recruitment efforts since the beginning of the year.
The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned, "This money comes from the Russian services GRU and FSB, who are seeking supporters of their content here," while referring to Russia's military intelligence and the Federal Security Service.
Moscow did not immediately respond to his statements.
Earlier this month, Poland had identified a Russian group assigned to influence Polish elections through disinformation and inciting instability.
Warsaw states that its critical role as a supply hub to Ukraine for its defense had made it a target for espionage operations by Russia and its ally Belarus, as well as for sabotage attempts. Both Minsk and Moscow have rejected allegations of sabotage.
In December, another NATO and European Union member annulled a presidential election due to allegations of Russian interference, which were denied by Moscow.