Poland accuses Russian group of interfering in presidential election

Poland has identified a Russian-backed group allegedly working to influence the country’s upcoming presidential elections through disinformation and efforts to destabilize the political landscape, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski revealed.

Poland is set to hold its presidential election in mid-May 2025, and authorities are on high alert amid concerns that Russian intelligence services may attempt to interfere in retaliation for Poland’s strong support of neighboring Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Warsaw's significant role as a hub for supplying military aid to Ukraine has made it a prime target for Russian and Belarusian espionage, along with potential sabotage acts. Both Moscow and Minsk have denied any involvement in sabotage activities.

Gawkowski, who also serves as Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs, made the announcement during an interview on private television channel. He stated that Polish intelligence had uncovered a group trained and inspired by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. The group's stated objective, according to Gawkowski, is to meddle in Poland's electoral process by spreading disinformation and recruiting individuals to sow discord within the Polish political scene.

While Gawkowski did not provide specific details about the group's members, he warned that the group was actively attempting to "destroy the coherence of the political scene" in Poland, as well as disrupt the upcoming elections. He also noted that, although the group is Russian, it could recruit individuals from various backgrounds to carry out these destabilizing efforts.

The Russian embassy in Warsaw, stated that it had no information on the alleged group or the accusations.

Gawkowski stressed that Poland's intelligence services are well-equipped to protect the country from foreign interference.

"We have very efficient services... that deal with the protection of the Republic of Poland. They have knowledge, and we identify these as actions that are intended to influence Polish elections," Gawkowski said.

"Russia is waging cyberwar on Poland. We are the most attacked country in the European Union, and the elections are to be a test of whether Polish democracy will survive," the deputy prime minister added.

By Vafa Guliyeva