Elderly Activist Featured in BT Film Linked to Espionage Activities in Poland

Polish authorities have detained a Belarusian activist who allegedly worked as a spy, part of a larger group accused of gathering intelligence for Belarus. Vladimir Usser, also known as Lazarev, was arrested in Bialystok, Poland, where he had been living as an émigré from Babruysk, Belarus.

According to Polish prosecutors, Usser was one of three Belarusians and two Ukrainians who allegedly cooperated with foreign intelligence services between March 2024 and February 2025. The group reportedly received instructions via Telegram messages to photograph critical infrastructure and locations considered important for state security. They were also tasked with posting propaganda materials and creating graffiti.

Usser’s roommate, who witnessed the arrest, described to Nasha Niva how agents from Poland’s Internal Security Agency raided their apartment. “Two days ago, I was sitting at the computer around 9:30 AM when there was loud banging on the door,” the roommate recounted. “About eight people with weapons and bulletproof vests ran into the apartment. They grabbed me first and asked if I had weapons or drugs, then immediately asked where Vladimir Usser was.”

The 69-year-old Usser has significant health issues, including diabetes, swollen legs with lymph leakage, and respiratory problems. Due to these concerns, the court has imposed restrictions that don’t involve imprisonment, though he is prohibited from leaving Poland. Following his arrest, he was transported to Warsaw and is currently hospitalized.

This isn’t Usser’s first controversial involvement with Belarusian state interests. Prior to his arrest, he had appeared in the propaganda film “Alien Sky” produced by BT, Belarus’s state television channel. According to his roommate, Usser filmed footage about the difficulties of emigration for the production, apparently believing it was “for the archives” rather than propaganda.

The roommate painted a picture of a man living in squalid conditions who had seemingly fallen on hard times. “He lived poorly. When they took him, I looked at what food he had—some millet, a can of peas, bread, oil at the bottom, a little sugar, salt—and that’s it. He ate at the expense of the neighbors,” the roommate said.

Despite having a daughter in Israel who reportedly offered assistance after his emigration, Usser appeared to have become estranged from his family. “He didn’t want to work, he wanted to freeload, so the family abandoned him,” the roommate claimed.

The roommate also noted Usser’s concerning media consumption habits: “Recently, Vladimir constantly listened to Russian radio. I scolded him, tried to show him Radio Liberty, Radio Racja, but it didn’t help.”

Polish authorities have charged the group of five detainees with serious offenses. If convicted, they could face between 5 and 30 years in prison. The other Belarusian citizens were identified only as Victoria M. and Anton M., along with two unnamed Ukrainian nationals.

This case comes amid increasing tensions between Belarus and neighboring countries, particularly Poland, which has become home to thousands of Belarusian political refugees since the disputed 2020 election and subsequent crackdown on opposition by President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.

The arrests highlight ongoing concerns about espionage activities in Eastern Europe, particularly as Belarus maintains close ties with Russia during its war against Ukraine. Poland, as a NATO and EU member that borders both Belarus and Ukraine, remains particularly vigilant about security threats from the east.