BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

16/01/2007

Lithuania hands over Belarusian spy to Poland

The Associated Press

VILNIUS, Lithuania: Lithuania has handed over to Poland a Belarusian who was arrested last year on suspicions of espionage, Lithuanian prosecutors said Tuesday.

The announcement followed a Jan. 11 decision by an appeals court allowing the Belarusian, Sergey Monich, to be extradited.

Lithuanian prosecutors said in a statement that Monich was transported to the Lazdijai border check point and handed over to Polish authorities, who had requested the extradition.

Monich, 40, was arrested in Vilnius in November after allegedly conducting surveillance of Polish and Lithuanian authorities for several months.

According to prosecutors, Monich worked for Belarus' secret service and had been trying to obtain information about Polish intelligence agents.

Lithuanian officials claim the Belarusian had been in contact with several Polish citizens for two years, offering money for classified information, including names of intelligence officials.

Monich had arrived in Vilnius on Nov. 24 and was arrested the next day. He denies the accusations.

Source:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/16/europe/EU-GEN-Lithuania-Poland-Spy.php