Russian couple sentenced to prison in Poland for spying for Russia

A Russian couple have received prison sentences after a Polish court convicted them of spying for Russia's secret services and passing on information harmful to Poland.

Source: Polish news portal RMF24, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The District Court in Sosnowiec sentenced Igor R. to seven years' imprisonment for espionage and sending a parcel containing explosives. Irina R. received a three-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting espionage.

Igor R. and Irina R. were arrested in July 2024 and have been in custody since then.

The charge sheet was filed with the Sosnowiec District Court in October 2025. The trial began in January 2026 and was held in camera from the outset.

According to investigators, Igor R. cooperated with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) against Poland between February and August 2022. Among other things, he collected and passed on information about Russian opposition activists living in Poland and individuals and organisations assisting them.

Igor R. transferred the information to his wife, Irina R., on an encrypted electronic storage device for her to pass on to the FSB in Russia. The investigators say Irina R. was expected to take steps in Russia to deliver the encrypted data to the FSB.

The Polish National Prosecutor's Office also accused Igor R. of working with two Ukrainian nationals and one Russian national in July 2024 to send and arrange the receipt of a parcel containing explosives that was transported by a courier company.

The parcel, which contained explosive devices and nitroglycerine, was discovered at the courier company's warehouse in Łódź Voivodeship.

Background: Two people were recently detained in Poland on suspicion of spying for Belarus.

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