BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/09/2007

Belarus Launches Trial against Polish Spies

The Military Panel of Belarus' Supreme Court has set to the so-called Polish spies' case, ITAR-TASS reported. The accussed are four residents of Belarus, while Russia's major will be a witness in the trial.

The Military Panel of Belarus' Supreme Court has set today to the Polish spies' case. The trial will be closed for public at large for the sake of state secret protection, said sources with the Supreme Court.

The defendants are four citizens of Belarus charged with high treason. One of them is also accused of arranging the spying by order of foreign intelligence. The laws of Belarus set forth imprisonment of seven to 15 years for the crimes of this kind.

On July 15, Belarus' KGB Deputy Chief Viktor Vegera reported unmasking a group of resident agents spying for Poland. "For the first time, we have revealed and completely uncovered activities of the resident group of five agents - four citizens of the Belarus Republic and a citizen of the Russian Federation, now already the former military men," Vegera told the nation via All-National TV.

According to KGB, the agents were collecting strategic information about the air defense system of Russia-Belarus Union State, paying particular attention to S-300 surface-to-air missile systems. The first suspect was caught red-handed when attempting to deliver secret information to the West. Then, three more citizens of Belarus were arrested for spying, while the major of the RF Armed Forces gave himself up to Russia's FSB and will act as a witness during the trial.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p-11328/Spy_Poland_Belarus_/