GRODNO, 20 October (BelTA) – The operation of a spy ring planted by Ukraine's military intelligence agency has been stopped in Belarus. Chairman of the State Security Committee of Belarus Ivan Tertel made the statement before meeting with Grodno Azot workers and ideologists of Grodno organizations to discuss the evolving military political situation in the country and abroad, BelTA has learned.
Ivan Tertel said: “We see more active human intelligence efforts on the part of Ukrainian foreign security agencies. We have recently shut down the operation of a spy ring planted by Ukraine's military intelligence agency in our territory. The spymaster, who is a citizen of Ukraine, has been caught in addition to two Belarusian citizens, who also followed the path of treachery and worked in the interests of a foreign state. Apart from that, we've apprehended a former military officer, a lieutenant colonel. I am not going to reveal the name now. He had been working for Ukraine's security service. They held meetings, including in Odessa, other cities, in third countries. We've also apprehended a large number of Ukrainian citizens, who had infiltrated our territory, in other regions of the country.”
The KGB chief added: “The Ukrainian citizen came to Belarus via Poland. He set up a spy ring in an area near the border. He recruited our citizens, who collected intelligence about the operation of our Armed Forces, defense, security, and law enforcement agencies. Other state secrets. Respectively they have been caught and are facing criminal charges. An investigation is underway.”
Ivan Tertel went on saying: “We try to deal with every case humanely. Sometimes we find out things and allow these citizens to leave for a neighboring country as a goodwill gesture. At the same time there are the cases that I have mentioned. A criminal investigation has been opened on charges of espionage, high treason. An investigation is in progress. Our border personnel constantly face provocations at the state border. Virtually every day they face threats with deadly weapons, verbal abuses, and other actions that are beneath military personnel of any country.”
