German captain in court: indictment for espionage for Russia

German captain in court: indictment for espionage for Russia

A German professional soldier who is in the rank of a captain is charged with alleged espionage for Russia in front of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. According to a court spokeswoman, the Federal Prosecutor's Office took place in March. The soldier is said to have offered and passed on information on his own drive, while he worked at the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr in Koblenz. This office is responsible for the equipment of the Bundeswehr and the development of military technology.

From May 2023, the soldier contacted the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Embassy in Berlin and offered a collaboration in which he had already passed on information. However, there is no evidence that it was financially paid for it. The captain was arrested in Koblenz on August 9 and has been in custody since then. Both his apartment and his job were searched by emergency services. The trial chaired by judge Lars Bachler is scheduled until June 24th and comprises seven negotiation days.

The investigation was carried out in cooperation with the Federal Office for Military Shield Service (MAD) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as was announced by the Federal Prosecutor's Office. The exact details and motives of the soldier for the spy treatments should be uncovered as part of the process. The charges throw a light on the sensitivity of espionage activities within the Bundeswehr and emphasize the need for security checks and control mechanisms within state organizations to prevent such incidents.