European intelligence agencies from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania have successfully dismantled a Belarusian espionage network operating across multiple European nations, as reported by the Czech counterintelligence agency, BIS. This network, allegedly backed by Belarus’ KGB, involved operatives from various countries, including a former senior figure from Moldova’s SIS intelligence service, who was accused of leaking classified information to Belarus.
In a coordinated response, the Czech Republic expelled a Belarusian agent working under diplomatic cover, providing them 72 hours to leave the country. The authorities noted that the unrestricted movement of Belarusian diplomats within the Schengen Zone facilitated the establishment of this espionage network. BIS director Michal Koudelka urged for tighter restrictions on the movement of accredited diplomats from both Russia and Belarus in the Schengen area to mitigate such hostile activities.
In a related development, Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, arrested a 47-year-old Moldovan suspect on treason charges for allegedly transmitting state secrets to Belarusian operatives during meetings in Budapest in 2024 and 2025, with reports suggesting these interactions involved payments and operational directives. The broader investigation is being coordinated by Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency.
This operation reflects the heightened concerns regarding Belarus’ alignment with Russia under President Alexander Lukashenko, especially given Belarus’ role in supporting Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The dismantling of the espionage network emphasizes ongoing efforts by European nations to combat foreign intelligence activities on their soil.
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