Czechia, Romania, Hungary dismantle Belarusian spy network in Europe

Prague also declared a Belarusian embassy official persona non grata.

According to the Czech agency, the network was set up by the Belarusian KGB to recruit agents and gather intelligence. European agencies uncovered members of the network and KGB officers, including a former deputy director of Moldova’s Intelligence and Security Service, who had been passing classified information to Minsk.

The BIS said the group exploited Europe’s free-travel zone to build its network.

The Czech Foreign Ministry said the expelled diplomat was linked to the KGB. 

“We will not tolerate the abuse of diplomatic cover for intelligence activities,” it said.

In March, Lithuanian prosecutors referred two suspects to court on charges of spying for Belarus. Lithuania’s State Security Department later called for tougher punishments for espionage on behalf of foreign governments.