The Berlin Tribunal opened this Wednesday amidst chaos. extreme secrecy And strong security measures Trial of an official who engaged in foreign espionage, Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, accused treason To the State for leaking documents to Russia. This is a case that calls their secret service into question. It emerged when there was a large-scale occupation UkraineWhen Berlin promised Kiev maximum solidarity (humanitarian aid and weapons). There are two defendants in this process. Carsten L. and Arthur E.., although attention is focused on the first, because this so-called ‘mole’ or confidant Those maneuvering from BND headquarters. According to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the official received 450,000 euros for his services, while the other defendant received 400,000 euros from Russia.
It was among the sensitive material the official handed over to his contact, who passed it on to authorities. FSB Russian (formerly KGB), there was communication between Mercenaries in the service of the Kremlin from the Wagner group. At the time, this group played an important role in President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine. These communications were under surveillance, but their parameters were changed when Carsten L.’s leak to Arthur E. reached Moscow. In other words, the collected studies and the ability to track the group’s movements by Western espionage were disrupted. Worse still, the BND discovered these actions not on its own, but after being warned by other allied secret services.
In total, the official delivered nine documents to his contact. He sent them to Moscow through a channel. Business man unidentified. According to German public broadcaster ARD, two deliveries took place. The reconstruction of what happened stems primarily from Arthur E.’s statements. admission While it is being completed, the official remains silent.
meeting at the barbecue
According to a reconstruction of events, the official and his contact met at a barbecue in 2021. Both had served together in the army. Carsten L. was later assigned to the technical supervision department. BND’s headquarters in Pullach, in Bavaria. Arthur E. was in the gold and gemstone business. A year later, sensitive documents were allegedly handed over at a meeting on the shores of Bavaria’s beautiful lake Starnberger See.
ARD admits that the whole case has the feel of a movie. This includes theatrical performances around the opening of the trial, which is expected to last until July next year. In Germany, the press is not allowed to enter the hearing until the first moments of the trial and a few minutes after the defendant enters the hearing. In this case, the cameras could barely record because the lawyers, prosecutors and judges had to leave the room before the defendants appeared. The choice of accredited media was very limited. Those among them had to give up mobile phones, computers and even pens to enter the room.