Exiled Russian accused of spying on opposition, including Navalny movement

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Niko VorobyovDecember 16, 2025 at 02:51 PM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Igor Rogov, an exiled Russian living in Poland, has been accused of spying for Russian intelligence on opposition groups, including the Navalny movement. Rogov and Artem Vazhenkov, both members of the Open Russia opposition group, were arrested and beaten in Minsk in 2020 during Belarusian protests. Vazhenkov expressed shock at Rogov's subsequent arrest in Poland for espionage, where he reportedly admitted to working for Russian intelligence for years. Rogov is also accused of involvement in a plot to detonate incendiary devices across Europe. His case, which began on December 8th, occurs amidst heightened suspicion of Russian passport holders and a wave of sabotage attributed to Russia. If found guilty, Rogov would be the first known Kremlin asset within the opposition movement granted shelter in Europe.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Poland ×240% Belarus 40% Alexander Lukashenko 50% Mikhail Khodorkovsky 60% Artem Vazhenkov ×270% Igor Rogov ×480%

Keywords

igor rogov 100% espionage 90% russian opposition 80% russian intelligence 70% belarus protests 60% poland 60% hybrid warfare 50% open russia 50% mikhail khodorkovsky 50% sabotage 40%