Two women have been arrested in Serbia on suspicion of espionage, with pro-government media reporting that they allegedly collected information about members of Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and passed it to authorities in Kosovo and Albania.
The arrests were carried out on Tuesday by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jagodina, together with police departments in Vranje and Jagodina and the BIA.
One of the suspects, identified by the initials D. C., 46, from Šilovo in the municipality of Gjilan, Kosovo, was arrested in Vranje. The second suspect, N. P., 50, was arrested in the Jagodina area, where she resides.
According to the allegations, the two women are suspected of committing the criminal offense of espionage under Article 315 of Serbia’s Criminal Code. Authorities suspect that they had continuously gathered information about BIA personnel and provided it to intelligence services in Albania and Kosovo.
Authorities have not disclosed detailed information about the alleged activities. However, police reportedly searched properties used by the suspects and seized electronic devices and other items believed to have been used for communication and in connection with the alleged offense.
Under Article 315, paragraph 1, of Serbia’s Criminal Code, espionage is punishable by between three and 15 years in prison, while the offense covered under paragraph 2 carries a prison sentence of between one and 10 years.
The allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings.
