Poland to toughen life sentence for espionage

The Polish Sejm decided to increase the term for espionage

Deputies of the ruling party submitted to the Polish Seimas a bill that provides for a number of changes to the Criminal Code and some other laws. The main goal of the document is to adapt the provisions on espionage to the changing geopolitical situation and technological progress.

The most important change is the toughening of criminal liability for espionage up to 30 years in prison. If the perpetrator commits a terrorist attack, sabotage or sabotage, the upper limit of punishment will be life imprisonment.

Preparation for espionage and a declaration of readiness to act in the interests of foreign intelligence will be punished by imprisonment for up to eight years. An unintentional variant of such actions is for up to five years.

“The strengthening of punishments is justified by the fact that in the case of a crime, the threat of punishment should have a predominantly preventive value,” the explanatory note says. According to the Saeima deputies, potential criminals most often analyze criminal threats for committing espionage.

For disinformation carried out in favor of foreign intelligence, it is proposed to punish for a period of at least eight years in two cases. When the goal is serious disruption to the political system or economy of Poland, an international organization or another country.

Or in the case of inducing a government agency of Poland or another state, or an organ of an international organization to commit or refrain from committing certain actions.

The authors of the law would also like to extend the ban on photography and video filming of secret objects.

Read also: “The State Duma adopted amendments on life imprisonment for high treason”