Belarus detains Polish Carmelite monk for alleged spying

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus has detained a Polish monk on suspicion of espionage, the latest escalation in Minsk’s long-running standoff with its NATO member neighbor.

Belarusian authorities said Thursday that Grzegorz Gaweł, 27, was arrested in the town of Lepel, northwest of the Belarusian capital, after he allegedly obtained sensitive documents relating to military drills involving Russia. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Belarus, Moscow’s close and dependent ally, allowed the Kremlin to use its territory to send troops into neighboring Ukraine in 2022, and has also hosted some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons. Its strongman President, Alexander Lukashenko, has ruled the country with an iron fist for more than 30 years, relying on subsidies and support from the Kremlin.

Belarusian state television on Thursday broadcast what it said was footage of Gaweł’s arrest. It shows the Pole handing to uniformed officers a copy of a document marked “secret.” The document’s heading suggests it pertains to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises set to begin next Friday.

Belarusian security officers are shown pushing Gaweł to the ground, confiscating money and a SIM card registered in another name.