Among the released Belarusian political prisoners is Carmelite monk Grzegorz Gawel
The 28-year-old Pole allegedly obtained documents about the "West-2025" exercises.
Grzegorz Gawel is a Polish citizen from Krakow, a monk of the Catholic Carmelite order. In July 2025, it was reported that he had defended his master's thesis.
In September 2025, propaganda media spread information about his arrest in Lepel. The man is accused of "espionage" (Art. 358 of the Criminal Code) — allegedly for obtaining the plan of the Belarusian-Russian "West-2025" exercises.
The report showed a printout of a document from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus marked "Secret" — "order on the organization of preparation and participation in the JSE 'West-2025'". According to the propagandists' version, the Pole received it literally a few minutes before his arrest.
Footage of the document being handed over in a car was also demonstrated — it appears to have been filmed with a hidden camera.