Former German intelligence officer charged with treason for spying for Russia

A former German intelligence employee was charged with treason for allegedly spying for Russia, according to German media reports.

Germany’s federal prosecutor reportedly filed charges against Carsten L., a former senior employee of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), before the Berlin Court of Appeal.

Police arrested him in December on suspicion of trading state secrets with Russian agents and sharing intelligence obtained through his work about the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Another man, Arthur E., was also charged with treason as prosecutors believe he helped Carsten L. communicate with the Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB.

Carsten L. was for many years the head of the BND department overseeing surveillance of phones, internet and satellite communication. Shortly before his arrest, he was promoted and put in charge of screening employees, according to German reports.

He reportedly met Arthur E., a Russian businessman, at a party in Bavaria in 2021. It is believed Carsten L. gave classified documents with information concerning the war in Ukraine and Russian mercenary group Wagner to Arthur E., who in turn traveled to Moscow and handed them over to the FSB.

The case hugely embarrassed German authorities and raised serious questions about vulnerabilities within the BND.

Both men are accused of high treason and face the possibility of life in prison.