Two Russian citizens were sentenced to 5-1/2 years in prison in Poland on Friday for their involvement with the Russian Wagner Group militia and engaging in espionage for Moscow.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Poland and other NATO countries have witnessed an escalation in acts of sabotage, subversion, and other forms of "hybrid warfare" orchestrated by Moscow.
A spokesperson for the District Court in Krakow stated, "The defendants' actions aimed to sow social unrest, creating the false impression in Polish society that members of the Wagner Group were already present in Poland, undermining confidence in Polish security services."
Alexey T. and Andrei G. were detained in Warsaw in August 2023 on charges including conducting activities on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency and being part of an international armed group with intentions of committing terrorist acts.
Prosecutors revealed that the men displayed posters in Krakow and Warsaw featuring QR codes linked to a Wagner recruitment website. They had also previously distributed posters in France and Germany ridiculing the defense policies of Western nations.
Western authorities suspect Russian-backed operatives of various incidents across Europe, including break-ins and arson attacks on factories and critical infrastructure, physical assaults, and an alleged plot to assassinate the CEO of Germany's leading arms manufacturer.
Despite consistent denials by Russia, these allegations persist.
While Andrei G.'s lawyer mentioned a potential appeal, there was no immediate comment from Alexey T.'s legal representative. Polish law prohibits the disclosure of defendants' surnames until after the final verdict.