Russian dissident jailed in Poland for spying on opposition for FSB

A Russian opposition activist has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Poland after admitting to espionage for Moscow's Federal Security Service (FSB). Igor Rogov, 31, also confessed to participating in an operation involving the shipment of explosives, including nitroglycerin, through Poland in 2024.

Polish media highlighted this as the first publicly known case of a Russian political dissident being tried for espionage in Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rogov claimed he acted out of fear, believing Russian intelligence knew about him and would send him and his father to the front lines in Ukraine if he refused to cooperate.

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His task was to meet new people and eventually inform the FSB.

Rogov was accused of gathering intelligence not only on Russian dissidents in Poland but also on Polish officials, university professors, and organizations supporting exiles. His wife, Irina, was sentenced to three years for assisting in passing information to Russian intelligence officers.

Before moving to Poland, Rogov was active in Russian opposition movements, collaborating with anti-Kremlin groups. The verdict comes as Poland advocates for a stricter European approach to Russian citizens, joining ten EU countries in urging the European Commission to tighten visa rules for Russians due to perceived security risks from Moscow's alleged espionage and sabotage campaigns.

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He believed that Russian intelligence knew everything about him and that if he did not agree to cooperate, they would recruit him and his father and send them to the front lines in Ukraine.