A former Germany officer faces persecution over charges of spying for Russia

A former German officer appeared on Monday before his country’s judiciary on charges of spying for Moscow, as issues related to Russian influence in Germany increase since the war in Ukraine.

The man identified as Thomas H. was arrested in July in the city of Koblenz, according to prosecutors.

He is being tried in Dusseldorf on charges of transmitting information to Russian intelligence services while working in the purchasing department for highly advanced weapons supplied to the elite in the German Army’s special forces.

The work of this department, which employs about 12,000 employees, has increased significantly since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, as Germany is one of the main suppliers of military equipment to Ukraine to repel Russian forces.

In May 2023, Thomas H. contacted the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Embassy in Berlin and offered his cooperation, according to prosecutors.

“In the meantime, he passed information he obtained during his work activities to be passed on to a Russian intelligence service,” according to the same source.

The German media reported that the officer obtained sensitive information, especially regarding electronic warfare systems.

According to Der Spiegel magazine, the arrested officer was a captain in the army and responsible for purchasing electronic warfare equipment specifically used to disable enemy air defense systems.

The man is accused of being an intelligence agent and violating state secrets, as the hearings are expected to continue until the end of June.

Last year, German intelligence services warned of increased espionage operations on behalf of Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, which led to escalating tensions between the West and Moscow.

In the most recent example, dating back to April 18, German authorities announced the arrest of two people suspected of spying for Russia and planning acts of sabotage against aid to Ukraine.

A former German secret agent is currently on trial in Berlin on charges of passing classified information to Russian security services in the fall of 2022, a charge he categorically denies.

Last November, a German was sentenced to suspended imprisonment on charges of transmitting information to Russian intelligence services while working as a reserve officer in the ranks of the German army.

The German authorities pledged to take a tough stance regarding the increase in these cases. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed that “we will never accept espionage activities in Germany.”

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Germany has expelled several Russian diplomats accused of posing a threat to the country’s security.

Berlin closed four of the five Russian consulates on its territory, in response to the restrictions imposed by Moscow on its diplomatic mission in Russia.