2023-12-13 18:50:46
The Berlin Court opened this Wednesday in the middle of a extreme secrecy y strong security measures the trial against an official of his foreign espionage, the Federal Intelligence Service or BND, accused of high treason to the State for having leaked documents to Russia. It is a case that calls into question its secret services. It came to light when the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, when Berlin promised maximum solidarity – humanitarian and arms – to kyiv. There are two defendants in this process, Carsten L. y Arthur E., although the attention is focused on the first, because it is the supposed ‘top’ the confidant who maneuvered from the BND headquarters. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the official charged 450,000 euros for his services, while the other defendant received 400,000 euros from the Russian side.
Among the sensitive material that the official handed over to his contact, who in turn transferred it to the FSB Russian (formerly KGB), there were communications between mercenaries in the service of the Kremlin from the Wagner group. At that time this group played an essential role in President Vladimir Putin’s offensive in Ukraine. These communications were under surveillance, but when the leak provided by Carsten L. to Arthur E. arrived in Moscow, its parameters were changed. That is to say, the work collected and the possibility of following the group’s movements by Western espionage were ruined. To make matters worse, 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 Businessman unidentified. There were two deliveries, according to German public television ARD. The reconstruction of what happened is basically due to the statements of Arthur E., who has made a confession complete, while the official remains silent.
Meeting at a barbecue
According to the reconstruction of the events, the official and his contact met in 2021 at a barbecue. Both had served together in the Army. Carsten L. was then assigned to the technical surveillance department of the central del BND in Pullach, in Bavaria. Arthur E. was engaged in the gold and precious stone business. A year later he committed the alleged delivery of sensitive documents in a meeting on the shores of Starnberger See, a beautiful Bavarian lake.
The whole case has a movie tone, admits the ARD. Including the theatrics surrounding the opening of the trial, which is expected to last until July of next year. In Germany, the entry of graphic press is not allowed in a trial except in the initial moments of the hearing and until a few minutes after the entry of the accused. In this case, the cameras were barely able to record lawyers, prosecutors and judges, since they had to leave the room before the defendants appeared. The selection of accredited media was very restricted. Those who were among them had to hand over cell phones, computers and even pens to access the room.
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