German military linked to the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AzG), admitted that he provided information to the Russian intelligence service, DPA reported, BTA reported.
He explained his actions with the fear of an escalation of the war in Ukraine to a nuclear conflict, the 54-year-old man said today on the first day of his trial before the Higher District Court in Düsseldorf.
The accused, who holds the rank of captain, worked in the Federal Service for Equipment, Information Technology and Maintenance of the Bundeswehr. The Koblenz-based institution is responsible for equipping Germany's armed forces with equipment and weapons, as well as for the development, testing and procurement of defense technology.
It is alleged that since May 2023, the man has on several occasions and on his own initiative offered cooperation to the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Prosecutors say the defendant, who has been identified only as Thomas H. due to strict German data protection laws, passed on information with the intention that it would be used by Russian intelligence. There is no evidence that he received any money in return.
Around the same time he contacted "AzG" and has applied for membership. According to the court, his application for membership was approved in July 2023. The accused said that a message "probably on TikTok" prompted him to contact the Russian consulate. The official admits that at the time he was following a pro-Russian influencer linked to "AzG" on "TikTok".
He said he was concerned about whether he could get his family to safety in the event of a nuclear attack. He sought contact with the Russian side in order to find out in a timely manner "when this will happen". The officer said he regrets what he did and, in retrospect, considers it a mistake, adding that he was in a bad mental state at the time. As a captain in the Bundeswehr, the 54-year-old officer was in charge of electronic warfare systems, a representative of the federal prosecutor's office said during the reading of the indictment. Its purpose was "to give an advantage to the Russian armed forces against the background of the current political situation".