Trial for espionage at BND allegedly paid for by Russia begins in Berlin
L. is said to have provided the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB with several documents from the BND's inventory relating to a project for technical information gathering. E. is said to have photographed the documents and taken the data to Moscow, where he is said to have passed them on to the FSB. They are also alleged to have transmitted information to Moscow in another case. The defendants, who are in custody, are said to have received several hundred thousand euros each for their services. The trial has been scheduled for 51 trial days until July.
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- Presumably, the BND suspected Arthur E.'s involvement in the espionage case due to his frequent trips to Moscow.
- The FSB is believed to have been the target of the alleged espionage, as they are said to have received documents from the BND's inventory.
- In a related case, the defendants are also accused of transmitting information to Moscow, suggesting a pattern of activity.
- From the outset, the investigation into the case was handled by the federal prosecutor's office in Germany.
- With the trial beginning, the chamber court will now deliberate on the evidence presented against the defendants.
- Carsten L., the prosecutor in the case, will lead the charge against the defendants in court.
- The defendants are expected to pay a hefty price for their alleged actions, as they are said to have been paid several hundred thousand euros each by Russia.
- Russia denies any involvement in the case, but Berlin maintains that there is sufficient evidence to carry out the trial in Berlin.
- The defendants' legal team will argue their case in front of the chamber court in an attempt to clear their names and refute the allegations against them.
Source: www.stern.de