Belarusian KGB Espionage Network Dismantled Across Europe in Joint Operation

European intelligence agencies from Romania, Czechia, and Hungary have successfully dismantled a Belarusian espionage network orchestrated by Belarus’s State Security Committee (KGB), according to official statements released on September 8, 2025. The operation, coordinated across multiple countries, exposed a sophisticated network that recruited agents and collected sensitive intelligence throughout Europe.

Network Exposure and Key Arrests

The Czech Security and Information Service (BIS) revealed that the network’s expansion was facilitated by the operatives’ ability to move freely across the continent, exploiting the Schengen area’s open borders. Among those implicated was a former deputy of Moldova’s Information and Security Service (SIS), who allegedly transmitted classified information to Belarusian intelligence. Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, confirmed that the suspect held meetings with Belarusian KGB officers in Budapest in 2024 and 2025, exchanging state secrets for financial compensation and operational instructions. The individual was apprehended in Romania on September 8, following coordinated efforts by prosecutors, police, and intelligence services from all three countries. Investigations into the suspect’s activities are ongoing.

Diplomatic Fallout and Regional Security Implications

In response to the revelations, Prague declared a Belarusian embassy employee persona non grata and ordered their expulsion, citing the misuse of diplomatic cover for intelligence activities. "We will not tolerate the abuse of diplomatic cover for intelligence activities," the Czech Foreign Ministry stated. The exposure of the network underscores growing concerns about Belarus’s role as a regional security threat, particularly given its close alliance with Russia and its support for Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine. Czech authorities emphasized that the network’s ability to operate was largely due to the freedom of movement across Europe, highlighting vulnerabilities in European border controls.

Broader Context: Belarusian and Russian Intelligence Activities

The dismantling of the Belarusian KGB network comes amid heightened tensions in Central and Eastern Europe, where Russian and Belarusian intelligence operations have intensified since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Intelligence agencies across the region have reported increased espionage and sabotage attempts linked to Moscow and Minsk. The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of transnational cooperation in countering such threats, as European agencies exchanged information and executed investigation orders swiftly. The incident also coincides with preparations for the joint Russia-Belarus military exercises, Zapad-2025, raising further concerns about covert intelligence and military activities under the guise of official maneuvers.

While Belarusian officials have not publicly commented on the dismantling, Western intelligence sources stress the importance of vigilance and continued collaboration to prevent future breaches. The case highlights the persistent challenge posed by state-sponsored espionage networks exploiting diplomatic channels and open borders within Europe.