Former officer, Polish national jailed for espionage in Belarus
December 4, Pozirk. Dźmitryj Paźniakoŭ, a former army officer designated as a political prisoner, is serving a 19-year prison sentence for high treason, according to the film “Belarusian KGB Counterintelligence Against Polish Secret Services,” aired by Belarus 1 yesterday.
This is the first official report of his sentence. He is held at Navapołack’s Penal Colony No. 1.
Judge Andrej Leščanka of the Brest Regional Court found him guilty in November 2023.
He was allegedly recruited during one of his regular trips to Poland.
The film presented him as a native of Uzbekistan holding a degree from Belarusian Military Academy’s Air Defense Faculty. He served as an air defense platoon commander and a deputy military enlistment officer, and also taught at Military Academy.
Belarus 1 showed Paźniakoŭ’s interrogation.
It also reported that in the same case, a 14-year prison sentence was handed to Polish national Tomasz Biaroza, who was found guilty of espionage and covert operations.
He was allegedly recruited by Polish secret services in 2010. The film features an interview in detention and operational footage.
Human rights activists have already known Biaroza’s sentence and say that he is in Ivacevičy’s Penal Colony No. 22.
According to the film, Biaroza allegedly sent Paźniakoŭ a monetary reward hidden in a Biełpošta parcel.
Kanstancin Byčak, head of the KGB’s investigative department, said the two received their sentences on November 23, 2023.
“Paźniakoŭ and Biaroza were accused of collaborating with the Polish National Defense Ministry’s military intelligence service by spying, disclosing state secrets and otherwise assisting Polish military intelligence in acting to harm the national security of Belarus,” he said.
In addition, the film featured Polish national Jerzy Żywolewski, who allegedly cooperated with his country’s secret services since 2003.
He was designated as a political prisoner in April 2023.
The Hrodna Regional Court sentenced him to four years in prison on March 22, 2023, activists said. He is held at Vićba’s Penal Colony No. 3.
