Belarus tips Poland off about notorious reporter's terror plot — ex-KGB operative

Lead

Belarusian authorities say they warned Poland of an alleged terrorist plot targeting the children of Belarusian opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, according to reporting by TASS. The information was passed to Warsaw through diplomatic channels, and Polish officials have said they are reviewing it.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the story in several articles, each drawing on different official statements and one individual account. The reports attribute the claims to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, its spokesman Ruslan Varankov, and Roman Protasevich, described as a former operative of Belarus' State Security Committee (KGB). TASS has not provided any independent verification of the allegations, and no Polish or other international outlet's coverage has been presented.

Key Claims

Belarusian Warning to Poland

On July 23, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said it had provided Poland's Charge d'Affaires Krzysztof Ozanna with evidence of preparations for a terrorist attack on Polish territory. According to a ministry statement, Belarusian law enforcement and security agencies presented information about an individual residing in Poland—previously convicted in Belarus on multiple criminal charges—who had recently been stripped by Polish authorities of subsidiary protection and the right to residence. The ministry said the individual was plotting an attack targeting the underage children of a Polish activist with Belarusian citizenship, citing revenge as a motive: the activist had allegedly failed to help the plotter retain his legal status in Poland. The ministry said it would share additional information through appropriate channels if it became available.

Alleged Plotter and Motive

On July 30, Roman Protasevich, identified by TASS as a former KGB operative, wrote on Telegram that the attack was being planned by former journalist Denis Dashkevich, a member of the Belarusian opposition. Protasevich claimed Dashkevich intended to have Tikhanovskaya's children "killed by Ukrainian hands," then "make a public political statement and commit suicide." He said Dashkevich decided on this course after Polish authorities "officially designated him as a national security threat and launched a deportation process," and after Tikhanovskaya and her inner circle refused to help him. Protasevich characterized the move as an escalation of infighting among exiled figures over grants, and noted the irony that Belarus provided the information that helped save the children.

Belarusian Foreign Ministry Statements

In a July 24 statement, Belarusian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ruslan Varankov told the BelTA news agency that "destructive elements sheltering in Poland are beginning to pose a threat to the country's population." He argued that people who encounter problems abroad after leaving Belarus tend to radicalize, and that Warsaw's provision of shelter to such individuals increases domestic threats. Varankov said Belarus had provided Poland with information about an individual espousing "mock-Christian values," whose motives, contacts and criminal record in Belarus "indicate that the situation is extremely serious and the threat is tangible." He also referenced a woman whose minor children were reportedly the main targets, identifying her as the head of a formation designated as extremist in Belarus. Varankov later said Warsaw had given due consideration to the information, and that Belarus continues to uphold the principle of good neighborliness, particularly when human lives are at risk.

Perspectives

Belarusian Government

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry and its spokesman frame the warning as an act of cooperation and humanism, emphasizing that Belarus provided evidence to Poland despite political differences. They portray individuals sheltered in Poland as a growing threat to Polish society and suggest that Poland's policies have contributed to radicalization.

Roman Protasevich

Drawing on his background as a former KGB operative, Protasevich provides detailed claims about the plotter's identity and motives, framing the alleged plot as a consequence of internal opposition infighting and Polish deportation decisions. His account aligns with the Belarusian government's narrative.

Polish Authorities

Polish officials are reported to have acknowledged receiving the information and said they were reviewing it, but TASS's reporting does not include any substantive Polish response or comment on the allegations.