Authorities in Berlin have arrested a suspect for allegedly sharing state secrets and techniques, committing treason
German authorities have arrested an worker of the nation’s overseas intelligence service (BND) on accusations that he was spying for Russia by leaking state secrets and techniques to Moscow.
The person, recognized as a German nationwide by the title of Carsten L., has been arrested on suspicion of committing treason, the federal prosecutors workplace in Berlin stated on Thursday in a press release. Investigators searched his condo, his office and people of one other particular person. The BND carried out associated searches at two of its workplaces.
Carsten L. appeared earlier than a choose within the Federal Court docket of Justice on Thursday and was ordered to be jailed pending trial. In response to the warrant for his arrest, he’s employed by the BND and gave data obtained through the course of his duties this 12 months to a Russian intelligence service. The data in query meets the definition of a state secret below German legislation, prosecutors stated.
BND chief Bruno Kahl stated particulars of the treason investigation received’t be made public as a result of Russia might attempt to use such data to hurt Germany.
The arrest of Carsten L. comes simply three days after the Austrian Inside Ministry introduced that it had recognized a 39-year-old Greek citizen whom it suspected of spying for Russia. The person faces as much as 5 years in jail if convicted.
The final time a German intelligence service worker was charged with treason was in 2014, when a person recognized as Markus R. was accused of promoting state secrets and techniques to the US CIA. These secrets and techniques allegedly included private particulars on greater than 3,000 BND staff. He was sentenced to eight years in jail in 2016.
German officers have been on heightened alert for spying exercise on behalf of Russia amid the Ukraine disaster, which has pitted NATO members towards Moscow via worldwide sanctions and navy support to Kiev. Berlin expelled 40 Russian diplomats in April, accusing them of being spies. The Russian International Ministry referred to as the allegations unacceptable and responded by expelling 40 German diplomats from Russia.
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