Canadian teen recruited to spy for Russia, now sitting in Polish jail [Video]

As far as Laken Pavan’s family knew, he was backpacking around Europe, soaking up the sights.

But the 17-year-old had a different plan when he left Vancouver in April 2024. First he flew to Turkey. Then to Moscow, and on to Russian-occupied Donetsk in Ukraine. 

And it was there that he was recruited as a spy. 

“This is so absurd,” said Andelaine Nelson, his mother. “He’s a good kid.… He would have never done this had he not been pushed over the edge.”

Nelson had only recently reconnected with her son. They were rebuilding a relationship that had been severed a decade before by divorce and family troubles. And they were in daily contact …