Two Russians jailed in Poland for espionage and Wagner membership

WARSAW (Reuters) - Two Russian citizens were jailed for 5-1/2 years in Poland on Friday for membership of the Russian Wagner Group militia and conducting espionage for Moscow.

Poland and other NATO countries have all been experiencing increased sabotage, subversion and other "hybrid warfare" activity by Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

"The defendants' actions were intended to cause social anxiety, in particular to make Polish society believe that members of the Wagner Group are already here in the territory of the Republic of Poland, that the Polish services are not working," said a spokesperson for the District Court in Krakow.

Alexey T. and Andrei G. were arrested in Warsaw in August 2023 and accused of carrying out activities for the benefit of foreign intelligence, as well as participation in an international armed association aiming to commit terrorist offences, among other charges.

According to prosecutors, the men put up posters in Krakow and Warsaw with QR codes leading to a Wagner recruitment website. They had previously put up posters in France and Germany mocking the defence policies of Western countries.

Western officials believe agents paid by Russia are behind a number of crimes across Europe, including break-ins and arson at factories and critical infrastructure, physical attacks and even a reported plot to assassinate the head of Germany's largest arms company.

Russia has regularly denied any involvement.

Andrei G.'s lawyer said his client would probably appeal, while Alexey T.'s lawyer was not immediately available for comment. Polish law does not allow the publication of criminal defendants' surnames until the judgment is final.

(Reporting by Anna Koper; Editing by Kevin Liffey)