Ivan Tertel
MINSK, 4 April (BelTA) – Nationals of Poland and the Baltic states have been detained in Belarus on spying allegations, Chairman of the Belarusian KGB Ivan Tertel told the media on 4 April, BelTA has learned.
According to the KGB chairman, foreign intelligence services have recently intensified espionage activities against Belarus. “Let me tell you a secret: we have detained a number of Polish nationals carrying out spying operations in our country. The traitors with whom they were working here have been detained as well. Of course, Poland wants an exchange for any of its citizens. However, none of the detainees, who allegedly worked in the interests of Belarus, have performed any tasks of the Belarusian special services,” Ivan Tertel said.
According to the KGB head, “dozens of Ukrainian citizens” have been detained in Belarus for attempted terrorist attacks, reconnaissance and espionage activities. “The Belarusian KGB keeps contacts with all intelligence agencies of the world. These contacts are used to a different extent. Ukraine has addressed us with a request to swap some of its citizens. We have looked at the list proposed by them – we do not need drug addicts, rapists and others serving their sentences there,” he stressed.
There are also nationals of the Baltic states among those detained for spying in Belarus, Ivan Tertel said.
“We identify them in large numbers, and our opponents cannot make claims to us,” the KGB chairman said. “Of course, we keep contacts with the intelligence services of Poland. We are providing them with the information via all channels, and we will see what their response will be. By saying this I also mean the camps [that trains fighters] on their territory, attempts to commit terrorist attacks and also planned terrorist acts. I do not want to use the concept of the ‘red line’, but these are unacceptable cases in international practice. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that our response will be just as effective, and maybe even more effective, if such situations occur.
