Germany arrested a spy working for Russia
2022.12.22 14:16
Germany arrested a spy working for Russia
Budrigannews.com – On Thursday, German authorities announced that they had detained a member of the country’s foreign intelligence service (BND) on suspicion of treasonous sharing of state secrets with Russia this year.
The suspect, a German citizen named Carsten L., was taken into custody by police on Wednesday in Berlin, according to the federal prosecutors’ office. It said that the police also raided another person’s home and workplace.
“The blamed is thought for state conspiracy,” government examiners said in an explanation. ” He shared information in 2022 that he had gathered while working for a Russian intelligence agency. The information is regarded as a state secret.
In a different explanation, the BND said the representative had been put in pre-preliminary detainment and searches at two of its workplaces had been completed.
German specialists have cautioned of likely increased Russian spying given the Kremlin’s stalemate with the West over its attack of Ukraine. According to the domestic intelligence agency, 40 Russian “spies” were kicked out of Germany in April.
When contacted by Reuters for comment, the Russian embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond.
In a separate statement, BND chief Bruno Kahl stated that the BND began its own extensive internal investigation as soon as it became aware of the possibility of treason within its own ranks. The BND brought in federal prosecutors as soon as these suspicions became more serious.
Kahl stated that discretion is essential moving forward because any information about the investigation that is made public could give the “opposite an advantage in its intent to harm Germany.”
“With Russia, we are dealing with a player whose ruthlessness and willingness to use violence must be taken into account.”
Kahl added that as a result, the BND would not disclose any additional information regarding the case until federal prosecutors had completed their investigation.
The case came a few days after Austria said it had found a Greek citizen who was 39 years old and was suspected of spying for Russia.
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A German intelligence worker was arrested for treason in 2014, but it was for leaking classified information to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The man, distinguished as Markus R., was in 2016 condemned to eight years in jail. At the time, the incident strained relations between Berlin and Washington, two close allies.
