Russian citizen detained in Świdnica on suspicion of spying, photographing trains and rail infrastructure

In brief

• A 55-year-old Russian citizen was detained in Świdnica on suspicion of working for a foreign intelligence service.
• He was photographing trains and railway infrastructure, and police found hundreds of thousands of similar files on his storage media.
• He is charged under article 130 § 1 of the Criminal Code, and a court ordered three months of pretrial detention.
• Minister Tomasz Siemoniak called such an arrest of a Russian citizen in Poland a rare occurrence.

Detention near railway tracks in Świdnica

Police in Lower Silesia detained a 55-year-old Russian citizen in Świdnica on suspicion of carrying out activities for a foreign intelligence service against Poland (Świdnica: Zatrzymany 55-letni obywatel Rosji. Miał działać na rzecz obcego wywiadu – TVN24) ("To ewenement". Siemoniak o zatrzymaniu Rosjanina podejrzanego o szpiegostwo – Onet). Officers caught him during patrols after a football match (Rosjanin podejrzany o szpiegostwo w Polsce. Jest decyzja sądu – Wirtualna Polska). Police detained him near a railway viaduct.

Photographs and seized equipment

The man had been photographing passing trains and railway infrastructure in the city (Fotografował pociągi i infrastrukturę krytyczną. Sąd aresztował Rosjanina – Rzeczpospolita). Police seized camera and electronic equipment, mobile phones, laptops, and portable and external hard drives (У Польщі затримала росіянина, який фотографував залізницю: його підозорюють в роботі на розвідку – Українська правда). Analysis of the storage media showed hundreds of thousands of files on similar subjects, including photo documentation of transport facilities in Poland and abroad (Rosjanin szpiegował na rzecz obcego wywiadu. Robił zdjęcia kolei w Świdnicy – Dziennik.pl).

Charges and court decision

The suspect has been charged under article 130 § 1 of the Polish Criminal Code (Świdnica. Rosjanin szpiegował w Polsce. Fotografował kolej, został ujęty - PolsatNews.pl – polsatnews.pl). A court ordered three months of pretrial detention. Police spokesman Łukasz Dudkowiak told Polsat News that the man also carried several documents in different identities.

Official reaction

Tomasz Siemoniak, minister and coordinator of the special services, said the arrest and detention of a Russian citizen in Poland on such suspicion is a rare occurrence.