Police detain three foreigners, accusing them of espionage

Two citizens of the Netherlands and one citizen of Belgium have been detained in Baikonur after trespassing into the territory of the cosmodrome. The police are investigating whether these men have any links to foreign intelligence, the SHOT Telegram channel reported.

According to the source, all three men were detained on July 9 at the refueling station within the cosmodrome. They were detained after failing to show any documents proving they had the right to be there.

The two detainees are citizens of the Netherlands – 25-year-old Martin N.B. and 29-year-old Ooms S.N. The third man, 26-year-old Holben L.D., is a citizen of Belgium, the Telegram channel reported.

Authorities are also trying to find out how the foreigners entered the cosmodrome and are investigating whether they were engaged in espionage.

«So far, they are facing a five-day detention for illegally trespassing into a restricted area,» the Telegram channel said.

The police department of the Kyzylorda region has confirmed the investigation.

«This territory is controlled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Currently, the Baikonur division of the Investigative Committee of Russia is already investigating the case,» Kazakhstani police said.

Kursiv.media has asked the administration of Baikonur and Roskosmos to comment. They haven’t responded to the request at the moment this article was published.

Baikonur is the biggest cosmodrome in the world. It was established in 1957 by the Soviet Union in the Kyzylorda region of Kazakhstan and consists of 15 launching sites of nine different types. Russia has been leasing the cosmodrome since 1994 for $115 million per year under the bilateral agreement that will last until 2050.

In June, two tourists from France tried to illegally enter the territory of the Baikonur Cosmodrome via the steppe. As a result, one of them died due to heat and dehydration.