Trial begins in Poland for a gang of arsonists and arms dealers hired by Russian special services. Three Belarusians among the accused

Illustrative photo Gov.by

Eight people are in the dock, including three citizens of Belarus, Most writes.

The trial of the criminal group was supposed to begin back in December 2025, but then the lawyer of one of the Belarusians, Stsiapan K., requested a conversation with his client, as he had not had the opportunity to meet him until then. Stsiapan K. is the son-in-law of the former Belarusian consul in Gdańsk. In addition to him, charges have been brought against Andrei B. and Yaroslav S. The latter cooperated with the investigation and was therefore at liberty before the trial.

Normally, the group committed exclusively criminal offenses. For example, the arson of a restaurant, which was an element of rival disputes. The group also engaged in arms trafficking under the guise of helping Ukraine. Members of the gang were indeed connected with volunteer associations fighting on the side of Ukraine, but the prosecution believes this was merely a cover-up.

According to the newspaper Wyborcza, some of the weapons went from Ukraine to Poland, and some further to the Czech Republic.

Particular attention is drawn to the connection of some episodes with foreign special services that ordered acts of sabotage — arson of facilities. One of the main suspects, Kamil K., nicknamed Korek, claimed during interrogations that he was unaware the orders came from them. Investigators do not believe this.

Wyborcza, citing the indictment, writes that Korek and the Belarusians were recruited for acts of sabotage through the Lucky Strike account in the Telegram messenger. This account was looking for "partisans" who would set fire to various objects across Europe for money. Polish special services believe that GRU agents run the account.

What the Belarusians are accused of

There are many episodes in the case, and Belarusians are involved in several of them. According to the prosecution, they are implicated in the arson of a restaurant in Gdynia in 2023. The damage then amounted to almost 3 million zlotys, and investigators concluded that the arson was ordered by the facility's competitors.

Stsiapan K., Kamil K., Andrei B., and Yaroslav S. are accused of attempted arson of a warehouse in Gdańsk in March 2024. Furthermore, Stsiapan K. and Andrei B. are accused of setting fire to a pallet warehouse in Marki near Warsaw on the night of April 8-9, 2024. All arsons were committed using Molotov cocktails. These actions are linked to orders from foreign special services.

A separate proceeding is underway against Stsiapan K., who is suspected of setting fire to the OBI construction hypermarket in Warsaw in April 2024 at the behest of Russian intelligence.

Additional charges have also been brought against Stsiapan K.: for incitement to assault another person and attempted grievous bodily harm in exchange for material gain.

Some of the episodes are related to arms and drug trafficking.

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