Until now, the trial has been suspended due to the absence of the accused in Poland. Rubcow left Polish detention in August 2024 as part of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and the United States and went to Moscow, where he was welcomed by Vladimir Putin. The court's decision to resume the proceedings was made after the analysis of secret materials transferred by the services and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
Judge Anna Ptaszek, spokeswoman for the District Court in Warsaw, explains to “Rzeczpospolita” that The court did not suspend the proceedings and plans to set a date for the hearing at the turn of October and November 2025. She also added that the call for the accused would be sent to the addresses known to the Court, and the previous findings show that Rubcow is currently not in Poland.
Secret materials dispelled the court's doubts
Earlier, the court had doubts whether he could conduct a trial against Rubcow, which he left Poland under a secret contract. After the publication of Rzeczpospolita, judge Paweł Du Château asked the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and other institutions and services about explanations regarding the status of the accused and the conditions of his departure from the country. After receiving a response from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Internal Security Agency and the Military Counterintelligence Service, The court decided that there were no formal obstacles that Rubcow could come to Poland for a trial.
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Judge Anna Ptaszek explained that he could not answer the question whether the court has established the possibility of Rubcow's arrival in the country, because this information is in classified documents. She emphasized, however, that the summons would be sent to all known addresses of the accused, and the court still awaits the response from other institutions, such as the Border Guard or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
No entry ban and possible consequences for the accused
According to previous findings, a secret agreement, based on which he left Poland, did not conclude his return to the country. This means that formally nothing prevents him from calling for a trial and to take part in it. Although it is unlikely that the accused appears in the courtroom, the court has the option of conducting proceedings even in his absence, if specific conditions are met.
Allegations and threatening punishment
According to the findings of the prosecutor's office, Rubcow, also appearing as Pablo González, from April 2016 to February 2022 to act to Russian military intelligence, providing information that could harm Poland, including as a NATO Member State. The National Prosecutor's Office states that he has acquired and transmitted data, spread disinformation and conducted operational diagnosis. Information that González can be a Russian agent was provided to Poland by the intelligence services of NATO countries.
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The accused is punishable by three to fifteen years in prison. It is not included in the amendment to criminal law, which from October 1, 2023 envisages even a life imprisonment for espionage.
