Russian hockey player charged with espionage in Poland

A Russian-born hockey player taking part in Poland has been charged with spying for Russia, in response to Polish information retailers.

Poland’s Internal Security Agency detained 14 people who find themselves believed to be a part of this Russian spy ring. Poland is taken into account to be one among Ukraine’s greatest allies in the continued battle with Russia.

A press release from Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro stated the player was competing in the second-highest division of Polish hockey.

Polish media retailers recognized the suspect as “Maksim S.” There are solely seven Russian gamers who’ve performed in the league this season, in response to Elite Prospects. Maksim Sergeyev is the one “Maksim S.” competing. He additionally has the very same stats as listed for “Maksim S.” in a report from Poland’s Hokej.television.

Sergeyev has performed in Russia over the previous two years, registering two factors and 61 penalty minutes in 23 video games this 12 months.

According to the BBC, the player is being held in pre-trial detention and will withstand 10 years in jail if convicted. He has but to launch a public assertion on the matter.

As quoted by Russia’s state-run Interfax information publication on Friday, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s international ministry, stated, “We express our strong protest to Warsaw and demand that the Russian side be given immediate and comprehensive explanations.”

Russia and Belarus are at present banned from worldwide tournaments held by the IIHF, with each groups solely competing with themselves and Kazakhstan in exhibition occasions held across the similar time as different main occasions.

A complete of 19 Russian gamers had been taken on the 2023 NHL Draft, together with 4 in the primary spherical. Five Belarusians had been additionally taken. Russian and Belarusian gamers are nonetheless permitted to play in the NHL, however many European-based leagues have banned them. Some nationwide groups may also not use gamers that play in the KHL for occasions corresponding to the lads’s World Hockey Championship.