Belarus

European Spy Ring Bust Nets Former Moldovan Intel Chief

Published SEP 11 2025

Story

Above: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks at the Great Heritage-Common Future Forum in Volgograd, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad on April 29, 2025. Image credit: Contributor/Getty Images

The Facts

Intelligence agencies from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania reportedly dismantled a Belarusian spy network operating throughout Europe, with the operation overseen by Eurojust, the European Union's criminal justice coordination agency.
The Associated Press
The Guardian
Newsmax
Alexandru Bălan, a former deputy head of Moldova's intelligence service, was arrested by Romanian authorities on treason charges for allegedly passing classified information to Belarus's KGB intelligence agency starting in 2024.
Euractiv
Kyiv Post
The suspect allegedly met twice with Belarusian KGB officers in Budapest, Hungary, during 2024 and 2025, where he received money and instructions in exchange for transmitting state secrets that endangered Romania's national security.
CNN
The Defense Post
The Czech Republic expelled a Belarusian diplomat identified as Mikalai Dukshta, who was working under diplomatic cover as a counselor for administrative affairs at the Belarusian embassy in Prague while allegedly conducting espionage activities.
Kyiv Post
The Epoch Times
Czech intelligence chief Michal Koudelka stated that Belarus managed to build the spy network because diplomats can freely travel across European countries within the Schengen borderless area, calling for movement restrictions.
ABC News
The Defense Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

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PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This spy bust shows exactly why Europe needs tougher restrictions on Russian and Belarusian diplomats moving freely through the Schengen zone. These hostile actors are exploiting diplomatic privileges to build dangerous networks that threaten national security across multiple countries. The fact that a former high-ranking Moldovan intelligence official could operate for over a year, passing secrets to Belarus, proves the current system is broken and needs immediate reform.

Euractiv

CTVNews

Narrative B

International cooperation between European intelligence services demonstrates that existing security frameworks can effectively counter foreign espionage threats when properly coordinated. The successful identification and dismantling of this network across multiple countries shows that current counterintelligence capabilities are working as intended. Rather than restricting diplomatic movement, enhanced information sharing between agencies provides the real solution to these security challenges.

CNN

The Defense Post