Russo-Ukraine War: Slovakia charges 2 people with espionage

Police and a special prosecutor on Tuesday said Slovakia charged a former military academy officer and another man with espionage for Russia.

The announcement came a day after the NATO country expelled three Russian diplomats. Russia said it would respond to what it called an unjustified expulsion.

Acting police President, Stefan Hamran, told a news conference in Bratislava, that police had detained and charged a former vice-rector at a military academy, identified as Pavol B., with cooperating with Russian Military Intelligence GRU since 2013.

"This person was intelligence contact of Russian GRU officers for whom he sought, collected and divulged information of strategic importance," Hamran said.

Hamran identified the other man as Bohus G., a contributor of a website shut down by government earlier this month, for spreading disinformation.

"He had admitted to seeking information from classified intelligence reports for parliament," Hamran said.

The accused could face from 4 to 13 years in prison if proven guilty.

"Two other people were detained but released without charge," police said.

Special prosecutor, Daniel Lipsic, said Russia's attack on Ukraine has brought renewed focus to espionage activities.

"The Russian Federation has classified Slovakia as unfriendly state and for this reason, these cases will receive large attention," he said.