Military officer from the federal government - Russian Spy Convicted, Faces 3.5-Year Imprisonment
A German military officer was convicted to a sentence of three and a half years in prison in Düsseldorf for spying on Russia. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court reached this verdict on Monday, aligning with the prosecutors' demands.
This senior officer, who is 54 years old, confessed to his crime at the court. Prosecutors claimed that the experienced soldier had "almost served Russia faithfully" to provide the Russian military with an advantage.
He divulged sensitive military information, according to the prosecutor. The 54-year-old served as a spy for a nation known for its ruthless and aggressive behavior.
Simultaneously, he became a member of a party called the AfD. If he had also divulged state secrets instead of just military secrets, he would've faced life imprisonment.
His lawyer stated that his client had obliterated his years of hard work as a disciplined professional soldier within four days of betrayal: "Four days of failure where he crossed the red line."
During a demanding professional period, his consumption of media shifted to Telegram and TikTok. It was here that he consumed fictitious news and out-of-context quotes. He had lost touch with reality for a brief moment. Since then, the captain has left the AfD.
He admitted that the fear of a nuclear escalation of the Ukraine war was what primarily drove him. In his closing statement, he said, "It's the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life." A depression resulting from chronic overwork had impaired his rational thinking. The man was arrested by employees of the Federal Criminal Police Office on August 9 in Koblenz and has since been in pre-trial detention.
Press release on indictment.
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- The indictment against another suspect, also from the German Armed Forces, is currently being handled in the Office of the Attorney General in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- There have been several high-profile espionage cases in recent years, highlighting the need for vigilance within the German Armed Forces and other government institutions.
- The Russian government has denied these allegations, maintaining that their military officers do not engage in espionage activities against Germany.
- The Germanjudgments in such crimes are seen as a deterrent by other nations, encouraging transparency and loyalty within their military and intelligence agencies.
- In a parallel development, the party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been under scrutiny for allegations of involvement in espionage processes, especially since some former members have been accused of spying.
- The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Rhineland-Palatinate is investigating these cases, demonstrating a concerted effort across German regions to combat espionage attempts.
Source: www.stern.de
