Two Russian citizens sentenced for Wagner Group recruitment in Poland
A regional court in Krakow, southern Poland, has sentenced two Russian citizens for espionage and recruitment to the so-called Wagner Group, a private military company, which was involved in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Andrei G. and Alexei T. (surnames withheld under Polish law - PAP) were detained by officers of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) in Warsaw in August 2023. They were accused of having spread hundreds of stickers enabling contact with individuals responsible for the recruitment to the Wagner Group all over Warsaw and Krakow.
They were also suspected of having placed posters mocking the politics of the European Union around Polish cities, as well as Berlin and Paris.
The sentences, issued on Monday and subject to appeal, impose a prison term of five and a half years on the individuals involved and encompass charges related to espionage and participation in an international armed group with the aim of executing acts of terrorism.
The prosecution had sought prison sentences of eight years, alleging that the two individuals engaged in recruitment for military mercenary service, which is prohibited under international law, and participated in espionage activities on behalf of the Russian Federation's secret services.
The defendants denied the allegations, asserting that their actions were limited to the distribution of stickers. Their legal representatives requested a full acquittal, arguing that there was no evidence of their conscious involvement in the recruitment process or any espionage activities.(PAP)
mj/jch
