Russia jails man over spying for Poland one day after Warsaw foils assassination plot

Key Points:

• Georgy Pirogov was sentenced to 23 years in a high-security Russian penal colony for allegedly spying for Polish intelligence, with charges including passing classified information about Russian weapons and supporting Ukraine's armed forces.
• The FSB claimed Pirogov established contact with Polish military intelligence in April 2022 after leaving Russia post-invasion of Ukraine, but details about his return to Russia and evidence were not disclosed.
• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the detention of a Russian national suspected of planning an assassination in Warsaw, linking the suspect to Kremlin recruitment and targeting an individual deemed a threat by Putin's regime.
• Russia has expanded espionage and treason laws since 2022, increasing maximum sentences and broadening definitions, leading to a surge in convictions related to alleged spying, particularly amid heightened tensions following the Ukraine invasion.
• Poland, a key supporter of Ukraine and host to US military forces, has reported increased Russian espionage and sabotage activities, resulting in diplomatic expulsions and heightened counter-intelligence efforts.