Polish Court Jails Russian Activist and Wife for Spying for FSB

July 9, 2026 Igor Rogov. Social media A court in Poland has found a Russian activist and his wife guilty of spying on behalf of Russia’s FSB security service and participating in a parcel bomb plot, Polish media reported Thursday. Igor Rogov, a former employee of the now-defunct nonprofit Open Russia, was sentenced to seven years in prison for passing information about Poland-based Russian opposition groups and activists to the FSB. He was also convicted of participating in a July 2024 scheme to send a courier package containing bomb components, which authorities intercepted before it reached its destination. His wife, Irina Rogova, was sentenced to three years in prison under the same charges. The trial, which began in January in the southern city of Sosnowiec, was held behind closed doors due to national security concerns, according to the English-language Polish broadcaster TVP World. Rogov and his wife had fled Russia and settled in Poland, where they were granted refugee status following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They were arrested in 2024. The Russian-language outlet Vot Tak reported that Rogov told investigators he was pressured into cooperating with the FSB, first due to issues at his university in Russia and later because of threats that his father would be forcibly conscripted to fight in Ukraine. Rogova reportedly acknowledged in court that she knew of her husband’s contacts with the intelligence agency but did not plead guilty herself. Igor Rogov is expected to be released in five years and Irina Rogova in a year and a half due to their time spent in pre-trial detention, according to Vot Tak. Read more about: Poland , Court cases , Espionage Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukraine Jails Ex-Police Officer 15 Years for Sharing Air Defense Locations With Russia Ukrainian prosecutors said the man shared the positions of air defense units with a former classmate who now serves in the Russian army. 1 Min read 2 Russians Appear in Polish Court Over Wagner ‘Propaganda’ The men were detained in August 2023 for distributing leaflets about the Wagner Group in the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. 1 Min read Russia Sends U.S. Reporter Gershkovich’s Case to Trial Evan Gershkovich was accused of working for the CIA and collecting "secret information" about the tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod. 3 Min read Poland Arrests Suspected Russian Spy The suspect is accused of giving Russia “information and materials in the military field and about Polish entities and citizens.”