Poland orders provisional detention for Spanish journalist Pablo González

Bilbao (Spain), 23 Mar The Regional Court of Rzeszów (Poland) ordered provisional detention for the Spanish journalist Pablo González until May 29, accused of a crime of espionage for Russia. This was indicated to Efe on Wednesday by González's wife, Ohiana Goiriena, who said that the court ordered pretrial detention pending trial. The wife has not been able to contact the journalist since he was arrested at the end of February, as only the Spanish consul in Warsaw can talk to him, who informed the family that he is physically and mentally well, after pleading not guilty to the espionage accusations. “We were worried at first, now we are angry and angry at the powerlessness of being unable to do anything,” regretted Goiriena, who called on the Spanish government to “draw attention” to Poland because of the situation of her husband, which her family “does not understand”. Pablo González, born in Russia and residing in Spain with his wife and three children, was arrested in Poland a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border, accused of being an agent of the Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, while working as a “freelancer” reporting on the arrival of refugees fleeing war. Spanish and international journalists' associations have asked Poland for explanations for Gonzalez's arrest and have demanded respect for the right to information in the coverage of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. CHIEF jmv/em/ram/lar/vh