In Romania, the ex-deputy intelligence chief of Moldova got arrested, under the influence of the Belarusian KGB
In a significant development, Romanian law enforcement has arrested Alexandr Balan, a former deputy head of Moldova's Information and Security Service. Balan, who has been working for Belarus' State Security Committee since 2024, is alleged to have passed secrets to the Belarusian KGB and had covert meetings in Budapest related to Belarusian espionage activities in Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Balan's career advancement in Moldova's intelligence service is said to have been facilitated by Vlad Plahotniuc, a fugitive oligarch and former leader of Moldova's Democratic Party, according to sources in Romanian intelligence services. Prior to his arrest, Balan held leading positions in Moldova's intelligence service, having become the deputy head in 2016.
The arrest of Balan comes amidst ongoing investigations by the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania into a Belarusian spy network. The Czech Republic has declared one employee of the Belarusian embassy persona non grata due to involvement in espionage. In March, Lithuania charged two of its citizens with spying for Belarus.
The ease of movement of Belarusian intelligence agents within the EU compared to Russian ones facilitated Balan's contacts with the Belarusian intelligence, according to the report. However, no further details about the spy network or its activities were provided in the article.
The news was reported by Digi24. It is important to note that Balan is also alleged to have collaborated with Russian intelligence services, although specific details about this collaboration are not available.
This arrest underscores the ongoing concern about foreign intelligence activities within the European Union and the need for vigilance and cooperation among its member states. As investigations continue, more details about this complex network and its activities are expected to emerge.
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