A senior German intelligence officer is
facing charges of treason for allegedly sharing state secrets with Russia.
According to German reports, prosecutors believe Carsten L, an employee of
Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND), divulged intelligence related to
the conflict in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group. In return, he is
suspected to have received approximately €400,000 (£340,000).
Another individual, a German man
believed to have acted as a courier, has also been charged in connection with
this case. Both Carsten L and the alleged accomplice could potentially face
life sentences if convicted.
Carsten L worked in a department
responsible for monitoring overseas telephone and internet communications at
the BND. Notably, he was promoted shortly before his arrest to a position that
involved conducting background checks at the agency.
Carsten L was apprehended in Berlin in
December, while his alleged accomplice, Arthur E, was arrested a month after
arriving in Germany from the United States. Arthur E, a German businessman
originally from Russia, is accused of traveling to Moscow and sharing
intelligence with Russia's domestic spy agency, the FSB.
Both individuals have been charged with
"treason in a particularly serious case" by Germany's prosecutor
general, though a court in Berlin will ultimately decide whether to proceed
with the case.
According to German reports, Arthur E,
who worked as a diamond trader, provided significant information after his
arrest. The two men reportedly first met at a private event at a football club
in Bavaria in 2021, during which Carsten L shared details about his work at the
BND.
While the prosecutor's office has not
commented on the reports regarding charges, the head of the BND, Bruno Kahl,
has described the case as a shock for the agency. Kahl mentioned that much of
the leaked material had limited value and stated that the BND has since
enhanced its security measures to prevent further leaks.
The invasion of Ukraine in February of the previous year has heightened concerns about Russian espionage in Europe. Several countries, including the UK, Poland, and Norway, have taken actions such as arresting or expelling suspected Russian spies. Germany has been a particular focus in recent months, with a government official working in a department dealing with military equipment arrested last month on suspicion of espionage
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