Russians Sentenced to 7 and 3 Years in Prison for Espionage in Poland

A court in Sosnowiec has sentenced two Russian citizens to significant prison terms for espionage activities targeting Poland. Igor R. received a 7-year sentence, while his wife, Irina R., was sentenced to 3 years.

According to the investigation, Igor R. collaborated with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) from February to August 2022. During this period, he allegedly collected and passed on sensitive information concerning Russian opposition activists residing in Poland, as well as individuals and organizations providing them support. The National Prosecutor's Office stated that Igor R. transferred the gathered data to his wife, Irina R., on an encrypted electronic storage device for onward transmission to the FSB in Russia.

Irina R. was reportedly tasked with undertaking actions in Russia to facilitate the transfer of these encrypted files to the FSB. The prosecution further accused Igor R. of involvement in a separate incident in July 2024. In this case, he allegedly collaborated with two Ukrainian citizens and another Russian national to arrange the dispatch and subsequent reception of a package containing explosives, which was being transported by a courier company. The package, containing nitroglycerin-based explosives and related devices, was discovered at a courier company's warehouse in the Łódź Voivodeship.