A German officer arrested earlier this week on suspicion of spying for Moscow had access to highly sensitive information during his work at the procurement unit of the military.

<h2>Warfare and sensitive information</h2>

On Friday, German local media, Spiegel Online and Zeit newspaper reported that the man who prosecutors have identified as Thomas H., was working in the Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support department that among other things, handled the procurement of a highly modern system of modern warfare. &nbsp;

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This, as per AFP, included procurement of technology for surveillance and disruption of opponents' radio systems and also the shutting down of enemy radio or air shield systems. It also looked after modern weapons that elite commandos use.

<h2>'Extensive access'</h2>

Spiegel, citing anonymous security sources, reported that the suspect in question had "extensive access" to the German military's electronic capabilities.

The man, as per an AFP report, in May 2023, approached the Russian embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Bonn "on his own initiative" and offered his cooperation.

He is suspected of providing information about his work for the German military division (Bundeswehr) to Russian diplomatic missions. Allegedly, he did this with the intention of passing it on to a Russian secret service.

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As per Die Zeit and Tagesspiegel, the man also has ties to Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

This comes just weeks after the German domestic security agency BfV warned against the risk of an "aggressive Russian espionage operation". Such reports as per DW have increased since Russia began its invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine in February 2022.

In April of this year, Germany also expelled some Russian diplomats over concerns of espionage. In retaliation, Russia had ordered over 20 German diplomats to leave the nation. Further, in May, Moscow imposed a limit of 350 German personnel in the nation.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A German officer arrested earlier this week on suspicion of spying for Moscow had access to highly sensitive information during his work at the procurement unit of the military.

A German officer arrested earlier this week on suspicion of spying for Moscow had access to highly sensitive information during his work at the procurement unit of the military. Warfare and sensitive information On Friday, German local media, Spiegel Online and Zeit newspaper reported that the man who prosecutors have identified as Thomas H., was working in the Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support department that among other things, handled the procurement of a highly modern system of modern warfare. Also read | Deadly bacteria found on Bibby Stockholm, UK evacuates controversial barge This, as per AFP, included procurement of technology for surveillance and disruption of opponents' radio systems and also the shutting down of enemy radio or air shield systems. It also looked after modern weapons that elite commandos use. 'Extensive access' Spiegel, citing anonymous security sources, reported that the suspect in question had "extensive access" to the German military's electronic capabilities. The man, as per an AFP report, in May 2023, approached the Russian embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Bonn "on his own initiative" and offered his cooperation. He is suspected of providing information about his work for the German military division (Bundeswehr) to Russian diplomatic missions. Allegedly, he did this with the intention of passing it on to a Russian secret service. Also read | Chinese military scientists achieved 'huge breakthrough' in laser weapon tech: Report As per Die Zeit and Tagesspiegel, the man also has ties to Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This comes just weeks after the German domestic security agency BfV warned against the risk of an "aggressive Russian espionage operation". Such reports as per DW have increased since Russia began its invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine in February 2022. In April of this year, Germany also expelled some Russian diplomats over concerns of espionage. In retaliation, Russia had ordered over 20 German diplomats to leave the nation. Further, in May, Moscow imposed a limit of 350 German personnel in the nation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Germany arrests alleged spy over suspicions of espionage for Russia

The&nbsp;German&nbsp;employee of a security company went&nbsp;on&nbsp;trial Wednesday for allegedly passing&nbsp;on&nbsp;floor plans of&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;buildings to Russian secret services, a case that has further frayed ties between Berlin and Moscow.

The suspect named only as Jens F., 56, is accused of handing over a CD-Rom with more than 300 files of floor plans of buildings used by the&nbsp;German&nbsp;Bundestag to the military attache of the Russian embassy in 2017.

&nbsp;

The military attache in post at that time is believed to be an employee of Russia's GRU military intelligence service. The suspect meanwhile worked for a security company contracted by the Bundestag.

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Reading out the charge sheet before a court in Berlin, prosecutor Frank Stuppi accused the&nbsp;man&nbsp;of espionage.

The suspect did not make any statements at the opening of the trial.

The court revealed that a plea bargain had been offered with a jail term of between 20 months to two years, but that was not taken up by the suspect.

The defence had advised Jens F. not to plead guilty, arguing there was no proof that he had transmitted the information to the&nbsp;Russians.

According to defence lawyer Friedrich Humke, the prosecution's case is based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the life of his client -- who was once an army officer in former communist East Germany.

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Prosecutor Stuppi acknowledged that other people could have had access to the floor plans, but argued that the indictment was based&nbsp;on&nbsp;the route that the files had taken.

Key indicators were when the files were saved and how they were stored, he said.

The court is expected to hear the case until the end of September.

Tensions&nbsp;

Without citing its sources, Spiegel magazine reported that the suspect was a former officer of the 9th tank division of the East&nbsp;German&nbsp;army.&nbsp;

Between 1984 and 1990, he also worked for the feared Stasi secret police informally, said Spiegel.

The case comes at a time of particularly rocky ties between Berlin and Moscow over a series of espionage cases, the poisoning and jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as well as repeated cyberattacks against the West.

The West has accused the Russian government of poisoning Navalny with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August 2020, which the Kremlin denies.

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Navalny was treated in Berlin before he returned to Moscow several months later. Upon landing at the airport, Navalny was imprisoned, sparking demands from the West for his release.

In June,&nbsp;German&nbsp;police arrested a Russian scientist working at an unidentified university, accusing him of&nbsp;spying&nbsp;for Moscow.

Germany has also repeatedly accused Russia of cyberattacks&nbsp;on&nbsp;its soil.

The most high-profile incident blamed&nbsp;on&nbsp;Russian hackers to date was a cyberattack in 2015 that completely paralysed the computer network of the Bundestag lower house of&nbsp;parliament, forcing the entire institution offline for days while it was fixed.

In another high profile case before a&nbsp;German&nbsp;court, a Russian&nbsp;man&nbsp;is&nbsp;on&nbsp;trial over the assassination of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park, allegedly&nbsp;on&nbsp;Russia's orders.

Moscow has denied being behind such actions.

The German employee of a security company went on trial Wednesday for allegedly passing on floor plans of parliament buildings to Russian secret services, a case that has further frayed ties between Berlin and Moscow.

The German employee of a security company went on trial Wednesday for allegedly passing on floor plans of parliament buildings to Russian secret services, a case that has further frayed ties between Berlin and Moscow. The suspect named only as Jens F., 56, is accused of handing over a CD-Rom with more than 300 files of floor plans of buildings used by the German Bundestag to the military attache of the Russian embassy in 2017. The military attache in post at that time is believed to be an employee of Russia's GRU military intelligence service. The suspect meanwhile worked for a security company contracted by the Bundestag. Also read | Briton arrested in Germany for 'spying for Russia' Reading out the charge sheet before a court in Berlin, prosecutor Frank Stuppi accused the man of espionage. The suspect did not make any statements at the opening of the trial. The court revealed that a plea bargain had been offered with a jail term of between 20 months to two years, but that was not taken up by the suspect. The defence had advised Jens F. not to plead guilty, arguing there was no proof that he had transmitted the information to the Russians. According to defence lawyer Friedrich Humke, the prosecution's case is based on the life of his client -- who was once an army officer in former communist East Germany. Also read | Germany's Merkel, US, UK, EU urge Russia to release Putin critic Navalny Prosecutor Stuppi acknowledged that other people could have had access to the floor plans, but argued that the indictment was based on the route that the files had taken. Key indicators were when the files were saved and how they were stored, he said. The court is expected to hear the case until the end of September. Tensions Without citing its sources, Spiegel magazine reported that the suspect was a former officer of the 9th tank division of the East German army. Between 1984 and 1990, he also worked for the feared Stasi secret police informally, said Spiegel. The case comes at a time of particularly rocky ties between Berlin and Moscow over a series of espionage cases, the poisoning and jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as well as repeated cyberattacks against the West. The West has accused the Russian government of poisoning Navalny with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August 2020, which the Kremlin denies. Also read | Russia hits Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with new charge that could add to jail term Navalny was treated in Berlin before he returned to Moscow several months later. Upon landing at the airport, Navalny was imprisoned, sparking demands from the West for his release. In June, German police arrested a Russian scientist working at an unidentified university, accusing him of spying for Moscow. Germany has also repeatedly accused Russia of cyberattacks on its soil. The most high-profile incident blamed on Russian hackers to date was a cyberattack in 2015 that completely paralysed the computer network of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, forcing the entire institution offline for days while it was fixed. In another high profile case before a German court, a Russian man is on trial over the assassination of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park, allegedly on Russia's orders. Moscow has denied being behind such actions.

German man on trial for allegedly spying on Bundestag for Russians

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Germany arrests alleged spy over suspicions of espionage for Russia

German man on trial for allegedly spying on Bundestag for Russians