Poland charges released man
In Poland, a Russian-Spanish national, Pavel R., also known as Pablo G., is accused of espionage. He was part of the recent prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. The Polish prosecutor's office announced that further investigations are targeting an unspecified number of alleged accomplices, including a woman identified as Magdalena Ch. The woman, reportedly R.'s former partner, declined to comment on the investigation.
Pavel R., better known as Pablo G., was arrested in the Polish city of Przemysl near the Ukrainian border on February 28, 2022, just days after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Posing as a freelance Spanish journalist, he contributed reports to Spanish media. He was detained in Poland until he was exchanged for Russian prisoners on August 1.
The prosecutor's office announced that a prosecutor in Lublin filed charges with the district court in Przemysl on August 9. They did not disclose the defendant's last name due to Polish data protection regulations, but it was clear that the accused was the alleged GRU agent R. R. is charged with a crime related to espionage, punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It was unclear whether the trial would take place in absentia.
The statement said that the accused is alleged to have supplied the Russian military intelligence with information from Przemysl, Warsaw, and other locations that could harm the Republic of Poland, also a NATO member, from April 2016 to February 2022. His activities also included spreading disinformation and conducting operational reconnaissance.
The man identified as Pavel R., or Pablo G., is the main accused in the espionage case. During his time in Poland, he reportedly provided sensitive information to the Russian military intelligence.
