Former German soldier admits in trial that he spied for Russia | EUROtoday

A former German military soldier judged to have spied for Russia admitted this Monday on the primary day of the trial in Dsseldorf that he handed over info, however affirmed that he did so with the goal of avoiding escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

The processed from 54 to He labored within the IT and logistics service of the German military and admitted that he transmitted info to the Russian consulate in Bonn.

“I was wrong, I admit it,” he mentioned. Thomas Hthe defendant who was recognized with this abbreviation to adjust to legal guidelines defending privateness in Germany.

This course of is a part of a number of circumstances of alleged spies found in Germany for the reason that begin of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The prosecution states that the accused approached the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Moscow embassy in Berlin in May 2023 and I supplied to “cooperate”.

According to the accusation, the defendant {photograph} a number of laptop information and weapons manuals. He was arrested in August 2023 within the central German metropolis of Koblenz.

“He transmitted information that he obtained thanks to his professional activity so that was handed over to a Russian intelligence service“, mentioned the tax collector.

The hearings are scheduled to final till June and this former soldier is uncovered to a penalty of as much as 10 years in jail.