Polish Roman Catholic monk arrested in Belarus on charges of espionage
Footage from Belarusian television: arrest of a Polish monk accused of espionage. Photo: Notes from Poland
On September 5, 2025, a Polish monk of the Roman Catholic Church was detained in Belarus. He was accused of collecting classified information about the upcoming Russian-Belarusian military exercises “Zapad-2025” and attempting to transfer it to Polish intelligence. The news was reported by Notes from Poland.
According to the television channel, the arrest took place in the city of Lepel. The detainee turned out to be 27-year-old Kraków native Grzegorz G. Documents concerning the exercises, cash in various currencies, and a SIM card registered to another person were found in his possession. In the footage released, the man admits that the papers relate to the upcoming maneuvers.
State media claimed that the monk was allegedly gathering information for Polish intelligence and contacted Belarusians via social networks, offering them rewards and gifts for cooperation.
In Poland, these accusations were called “absurd.” Polish intelligence spokesperson Jacek Dobrzyński stated that the case is “another provocation by the regime of [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko aimed at our country,” emphasizing that monks cannot be used for espionage.
The incident has sparked a new round of tensions between Minsk and Warsaw. Earlier, Belarusian authorities had intensified pressure on the Polish minority, while Poland, in turn, granted asylum to Belarusians persecuted after the 2020 elections.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that UGCC priests in Poland were establishing parishes for Ukrainian refugees while presenting themselves as Orthodox.
Read also
Serbian Patriarch offers condolences over murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church called Sviatohirsk Lavra a refuge for the displaced and urged that the monk’s violent death not be turned into anyone’s weapon.
“Never seen before”: Israel reports record number of Hasidim in Uman
According to an Israeli police representative, 52,000 pilgrims are currently in Uman – 10,000 more than last year. The city itself has a population of about 75,000.
UOC faithful hold prayer vigil outside Lavra for more than 1,000 days
For three and a half years, Orthodox Christians have continued praying for peace and for the preservation of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Zelensky congratulates Jews on Rosh Hashanah
Volodymyr Zelensky wished Jews peace and the triumph of good over evil.
Kyiv Theological Academy publishes book on Orthodoxy in 17th-century Ukraine
With the blessing of the UOC Primate, the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary has published a textbook marking the 430th anniversary of the birth of St. Petro Mohyla.