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Belarus detains 16 foreign nationals for spying in past two years — top security official

"In 2022-2023, the Committee’s counter-intelligence exposed 114 attempts at recruiting our citizens, including 37 servicemen," State Security Committee Chairman Ivan Tertel said

MINSK, February 20. /TASS/. Belarus’ counter-intelligence exposed more than a hundred attempts at recruiting Belarusian citizens and apprehended 16 foreign nationals for spying in the past two years, State Security Committee Chairman Ivan Tertel said at an enlarged meeting of the republic’s president with the senior staff of the security agencies on Tuesday.

"In 2022-2023 alone, the Committee’s counter-intelligence exposed 114 attempts at recruiting our citizens, including 37 servicemen. Forty-five people who embarked upon the path of betrayal were held criminally liable. Sixteen foreign citizens were apprehended for spying," the state-run BelTA news agency quoted the Belarusian top security official as saying.

Tertel drew attention to the mounting sanctions pressure on Belarus. According to his data, "a new anti-Belarusian sanctions package will be adopted by the end of February of this year."

The US Department of State and special services have worked out and are implementing a long-term strategy with the participation of other Western countries to destabilize the situation in Belarus with the involvement of opponents of the Belarusian authorities staying abroad, he pointed out.

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