Polish Prosecutors Charge Russian-Spanish Spy

Polish prosecutors have formally indicted Pavel Rubtsov, a Russian-Spanish man also known as Pablo González, on espionage charges, just days after he was released from prison as part of a prisoner swap with Russia. Rubtsov, who posed as a Spanish freelance journalist, was arrested in Poland shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The indictment, filed on August 9, accuses him of providing information to Russian military intelligence from 2016 to 2022, which could harm Poland's security as a NATO member. Investigations are ongoing into a number of suspected accomplices, including a Polish journalist identified only as Magdalena Ch., who reportedly had a romantic relationship with Rubtsov. The espionage activities included spreading disinformation and conducting reconnaissance in Poland. Rubtsov's case raises questions about his potential trial in absentia and the implications for Poland's national security.