Officer faces imprisonment for spying on behalf of Russia
In Düsseldorf, a German army officer is on trial for leaking sensitive military information to Russia. His actions could potentially endanger Ukraine as well. The 54-year-old defendant has confessed in court, shedding light on his motive. The officer risks several years in prison.
The federal prosecutor's office is seeking a three-and-a-half-year sentence for this German army officer accused of spying for Russia. The captain was part of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) during the same period. According to a spokesperson from the federal prosecutor's office, the charges have been confirmed. The soldier deliberately offered himself up to Russia to help them gain a military advantage.
To do so, he dropped an envelope containing secret documents in the mailbox of the Russian consulate in Bonn. Upon receiving no response, he contacted the consulate and the Russian embassy by email under the name Michael Müller. His actions were intended to counteract German support for Ukraine since the systems he was in charge of had also been provided to Ukraine. "That was also his intention," the prosecutor said.
The soldier was cognizant of the fact that betraying a military aggressor would put lives at risk. In his detailed confession, the officer refuted allegations that he handed over a CD containing confidential files. However, he had been caught on camera depositing the envelope in the consulate's letterbox, which was not filled with just a few sheets of paper as he had claimed. Additionally, he had emphasized the value of the material he had delivered in a subsequent email. The prosecutor's office elaborated, "The documents sent were intended to whet the appetite. They were intended to whet the appetite for more."
Arresting the captain prevented a more significant breach of national security. "It was just an appetizer for what was to come." He even went on to reveal this to the police after his arrest, saying, "What else could have happened." Had he betrayed state secrets, he could now face life imprisonment. As it is, the sentence range is between one and ten years.
Defense lawyer Marvin Schroth did not file a criminal complaint and described his client's actions as the "biggest cock-up of his life." Over four days, the conscientious professional soldier had destroyed everything he had built up in his career. "Four days of betrayal in which he crossed red lines. Four days of complete failure."
The lawyer questioned what could have led the defendant to such an act: "What on earth made him do this? Where the hell did Mr. H. take a wrong turn?" Helped by lawyers for the defense, the officer had been overworked for four years without seeking treatment. He was already in poor health and had spiraled downwards due to sleep disorders. In the midst of a demanding professional period, his media consumption had shifted to Telegram and Tiktok, where he was misled by false news and out-of-context quotes. According to the lawyer, on the day before the attack on Ukraine, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck warned of the potential loss of lives. However, the defendant countered Habeck's statement. The defendant's behavior was clearly out of touch with reality, and he labeled the prosecutor's demand for a three-and-a-half-year sentence as "clearly excessive."
The defense lawyer added that his client had since left the AfD. In his closing statement, the defendant described the past year as a "nightmare" that he wanted to forget. "It's the biggest cock-up I've ever made in my life." Fear of a nuclear escalation in the Ukrainian war had driven the soldier's actions, but the officer's behavior appeared more naive than strategic. Additionally, he hadn't even attempted to disguise his identity as he dropped off the documents at the consulate. The defense lawyer reiterated his stance on the sentence, deeming it overly harsh. "He finally sought help, but three weeks too late." The captain was arrested by federal criminal police officers in Koblenz on August 9 and has remained in custody since. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on May 27.
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- The attorney for the German army officer argued that his actions were a result of extreme stress and misinformation, which led him to leak information to Russia during the Ukraine conflict.
- The attack on Ukraine and the potential risk to Germany's support for Ukraine were factors that motivated the officer to espionage activities, according to the federal prosecutor's office.
- The Russian government has been accused of supporting Crimea's annexation from Ukraine and providing military aid to separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine, actions that have contributed to the ongoing conflict.
- The trial of the German army officer is part of a larger effort to address justice processes surrounding espionage and attacks on national security, which are crucial to maintaining peace and stability in Europe.
Source: www.ntv.de
