German police
German authorities have accused a German reserve officer of spying for Russian intelligence and providing them with sensitive security information over a period of six years.
And the German Federal Prosecution said, Friday, in a statement that the suspect is accused of providing the Russian intelligence service with information regarding reservists in the German forces and the civil defense service and the repercussions of economic sanctions imposed on Moscow since 2014, as well as regarding the construction of the controversial “Nord Stream 2” gas pipeline, which It connects Russia and Germany and was suspended in February.
The suspect was Ralph J. A reserve officer in the German forces and “runs the region’s communications command as a deputy commander,” according to the prosecution. His professional activity as a civilian, which was not specified, also allowed him to attend meetings of “several German committees related to the German economy.”
The prosecution indicated that these two roles allowed this officer, “who was in contact with the Russian intelligence service through many people,” between 2014 and March 2020, to pass on “on several occasions” documents and information partially issued by official sources, in addition to unofficial sources.
In addition to information regarding sanctions, Nord Stream 2 and the German army in general, the suspect provided Moscow “personal data regarding senior officers in the armed forces and (high officials) in the economy, including their data,” according to the Federal Prosecutor in charge of Terrorism and Espionage. In Germany.
The prosecution stated that for this information he received a special fee through “invitations to demonstrations organized by Russian government agencies.”
Several alleged spying cases in recent years have strained relations between Moscow and Berlin.
