Poland’s counter-espionage service ABW has identified 45 Russian diplomats as suspected spies and called on the foreign ministry to expel them, its spokesman said on Wednesday.

“The internal security agency has drawn up a list of 45 people working in Poland under the cover of diplomatic activities,” ABW spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn told reporters, accusing the suspects of targeting Poland.

He said the list of suspects had been transferred to the foreign ministry, tweeting that “ABW is requesting that they be expelled from Polish territory”.

The ABW “has detained a Polish national on suspicion of espionage for the Russian secret services,” the spokesman added on Twitter.

“The detainee worked in the archives of Warsaw’s registry office,” he said.

“The activity of the suspect posed a threat to both (the) internal and external security of Poland.”