Belarus Arrests Polish Monk on Espionage Charges: 27-Year-Old Carmelite Grzegorz Gaweł Detained in Lepel.

Polish Carmelite monk Grzegorz Gaweł, 27, was arrested in Lepel, Belarus, on September 4, 2025, accused of espionage. His detention has escalated tensions between Belarus and Poland. Belarusian state media aired footage of Gaweł allegedly handing a “secret” document to unidentified officials, potentially linked to sensitive information about the upcoming Zapad military exercises, scheduled to begin next week with over 13,000 troops, including the possible deployment of Russian nuclear weapons and advanced missile systems.

In addition to Gaweł’s arrest, authorities detained a Belarusian citizen for allegedly trying to recruit him through social media, offering monetary incentives. Notably, Gaweł was found with religious items, reinforcing his ties to the Carmelite order. The Polish government condemned the arrest as a provocation, with spokesperson Jacek Dobrzyński asserting that Polish special services do not enlist monks for espionage. Poland has urged its citizens to leave Belarus immediately, citing safety risks amid the country’s undemocratic governance.

The incident further strains already strained relations, exacerbated by Belarus’s backing of Russia during the Ukraine invasion and its crackdown on dissent, including clergy supporting protests. The Zapad military drills are being closely monitored by Western nations due to Belarus’s borders with NATO members Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Ukraine.

In response to the situation, Belarus summoned the Polish chargé d’affaires, demanding that Poland avoid any actions perceived as threatening Belarus’s national security. Diplomatic exchanges between the two countries are ongoing as the situation develops.