Poland to try suspect in alleged Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky
Polish prosecutors have indicted a man charged with allegedly planning to assist Russian foreign intelligence in a possible assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelensky, authorities announced on May 20.
The person charged, identified as Pawel K., was arrested on April 17, 2024 in Poland following a joint investigation by Polish and Ukrainian authorities. He faces up to eight years in prison, according to a from Poland's National Prosecutor's Office.
According to investigators, Paweł K. expressed willingness to work for Russian military intelligence and established contact with Russian citizens directly involved in the in .
His tasks included collecting and providing information on security at the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in southeastern , authorities said.
The press release also said that Pawel K.'s activities "were to help, among other things, in planning by the Russian special services a possible assassination attempt on the life of... the President of Ukraine ."
Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine and key transit point for Western military aid to Ukraine, says it has become a major target for Russian espionage and destabilization efforts, including and .
Most recently, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for cyberattacks ahead of Poland's presidential elections on May 18. In September 2024, the Polish government also accused Moscow and its ally Belarus of waging a "" on Poland.
Alongside its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has been accused of , , and across Europe.
Read also: EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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