Laken Pavan's family She was convinced that their comparative was traveling with a backpack in Europe. But this 1 had another plans. After leaving Vancouver in April 2024 first he flew to Turkey, then Moscow, then to Russia-occupied Donetsk Ukraine. There, a 17-year-old boy was recruited as a Russian spy at the time – described the Canadian CBC News station.
– This is so absurd," said Andelaine Nelson, Laken Pavan's mother. He's a good kid. He would never do that.If he had not been cornered, the female thinks.
SEE: A 101-year-old wanted to overthrow the government. Subsequent detentions in Romania
A teenager contacted his parent on his journey. In early May he wrote that he was in Denmark, working on a farm with respective friends. A fewer weeks later asked for money to buy an airline ticket to Warsaw. The last contact with her boy was on 22 May, shortly after the boy landed in Poland. A fewer hours later, he was in prison.
– I was told that Laken was arrested and accused of spying against the Polish government," Nelson said.
Young Canadian detained in Poland. He admitted to being a Russian spy.
According to data from the Polish prosecutor's office, to which CBC News reached, Pavan was arrested early on the morning of May 23, 2024, after he got drunk at the hotel bar and confessed – first to staff and then police – that he was a Russian spy.
A Polish investigator said he went to Donetsk, where he intended to volunteer for an organization he thought was humanitarian. That's where he's expected to be. ‘traced’ by Russian national safety Service (FSB) and “forced” to spy,” says the article.
SEE: Spying and diversions in Poland. MSWIA data on number of detainees
As further stated, a teenager at the command of his fresh “responsor” he went to Warsaw"to gather information about the Polish army and to make contact with its members". He was to do this even though, as CBC points out, Pavan does not talk Polish and speaks only English.
The Russians were besides to instruct a teenager to study a passport stolen at a halt in Denmark and thus hide his visit to Russia. For his services, he was to be paid in cryptocurrency.
Laken Pavan comes from a military family. He is serving time in a Polish prison
According to CBC News, Pavan was accused in Poland of “participation in Russian intelligence activities against the Republic of Poland”. The teenager confessed.
In December 2024, the Warsaw territory Court sentenced an 18-year-old boy to a full of 20 months in prisonincluding time spent in temporary custody. The Court of First Instance stated in its judgement that it was ‘extraordinary’ lenient given its confession and cooperation. Pavan is to be released in January 2026.
SEE: Ukrainian services have detained a Russian agent. He was helped by a 15-year-old.
Young boy comes from a military family, his father Kevin Pavan is simply a retired corporal, serving in Bosnia and Afghanistan. The teenager himself was a cadet of the Canadian Armed Forces and then a reservist. He planned to join the army after his 18th birthday.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Department of Defence told CBC News that Pavan's service as a Canadian Armed Forces reservist ended in October 2024 – 5 months after his arrest in Poland.
Lawyer on the Pavan case: Failure of the Canadian system
According to Pavan's household lawyer John Kingman Phillips, the boy might have been "watched and known long before going to Europe and East Asia". If so, the lawyer believes that the Canadian authorities should halt the teenager from leaving the country and treat him in accordance with Canadian law as a juvenile offender.
SEE: He played in the Polish league, turned out to be Putin's spy. The hockey player heard the verdict
– That's what it is. failure of the Canadian system and the Canadian intelligence and police network. They should have shut it down in Canada, focused on his rehabilitation and reintegration. Instead, he is suffering now in prison," Phillips said.
According to CBC, Lakena's household was informed that "Silent negotiations" are underway for an 18-year-old boy to finish his conviction in Canada today. The Canadian Ministry of abroad Affairs informed CBC News that it "worked with local authorities" in Poland.
– He needs to go home. He should not be in Polish prison," Pavan's parent said. – He gave himself up (in the hands of the police – red). He didn't do what they asked him to. He knew it was wrong," said Andelaine Nelson.
