Belarus Requests Prisoner Exchange for Accused Spy Journalist Kardash
Severity: Medium (Score: 43.0)
Sources: Pravda.Ua, Ukrinform, Kyivpost
Summary
Belarus has requested the inclusion of Inna Kardash, a journalist accused of espionage, in a potential prisoner exchange with Ukraine. Ukrainian officials confirmed that Kardash, who previously worked for Ukrainian media, was detained in January 2026 after being suspected of espionage activities. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Military Intelligence (HUR) conducted a counterintelligence operation that revealed she had been working for the Belarusian KGB since 2015. Authorities set up a fake workplace for her to gather evidence, leading to her detention. Currently, Ukraine is open to negotiations but has not received specific proposals from Belarus regarding the exchange. Kardash is under investigation and was ordered to be held in pre-trial detention without bail. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Belarus amid the broader conflict in the region. Key Points: • Belarus seeks to exchange Inna Kardash, a journalist accused of espionage, with Ukraine. • Kardash was detained in January 2026 after a counterintelligence operation by Ukrainian authorities. • Ukraine remains open to negotiations but has not received concrete proposals from Belarus.