BERLIN, Dec 13 (AFP): Two German men will go on trial Wednesday in Berlin charged with high treason for allegedly stealing intelligence secrets and passing them to Russia's security services during the war in Ukraine.
The pair, named by prosecutors as Carsten L. and Arthur E., are accused of working together with a Russian businessman to "procure sensitive information" from the portfolio of Germany's BND foreign intelligence.
Prosecutors did not detail the nature of the leaked documents, but Spiegel magazine reported that they related to the BND's efforts to surveil the Wagner paramilitary group, which fought alongside Russia's regular troops in Ukraine.
If found guilty of high treason, the suspects could be jailed for life.
Carsten L., an employee of the BND, is alleged to have passed documents from the agency to Arthur E. who in turn handed them to a contact in Russia, according to prosecutors.
Between September and October 2022, Carsten L. is said to have printed out or took screenshots of nine internal BND files.
Two Germans to go on trial for passing war secrets to Russia
FE Team | Published: December 13, 2023 23:56:43
Two Germans to go on trial for passing war secrets to Russia
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