The suspect was arrested in the western city of Koblenz on August 9, the Deutsche Welle website reported.
The man had approached the Russian embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Bonn earlier this year offering to provide information about his work for the German Bundeswehr army's procurement agency in Koblenz, according to federal prosecutors.
The “would-be spy” is believed to have views similar to those espoused by Germany’s populist, pro-Russian and anti-American Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, Poland's biznesalert.pl website reported on Monday.
The detention has reignited a debate in Germany about how “right-wing and anti-American beliefs” motivate some Bundeswehr soldiers, senior state officials, politicians and police officers to work for Russian intelligence, according to biznesalert.pl.
Konstantin Kuhle, a senior lawmaker with Germany’s co-ruling liberal FDP party, told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) outlet, as quoted by biznesalert.pl: “Anyone who sympathises with Russian dictators and supports military aggression, is barred from entry to the Bundestag (the lower house of parliament) as an employee, and even from access to information relevant for security.”
Kuhle added: “The Bundestag staff is obliged to check anyone seeking access to the Bundestag for suspected espionage. If necessary, an access permit may be revoked.”
Germany’s radical parties, such as AfD on the far right and Die Linke on the far left, are anti-American in their policy ideas and pronouncements, biznesalert.pl reported.
Their combined support among the German public "nears 30 percent," the Polish website said.
Some politicians with Germany's co-ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) have also expressed "anti-American views," according to biznesalert.pl.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 544 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: biznesalert.pl, dw.com/en
