The reserve lieutenant colonel from the German city of Erkrat, Ralph G., is on trial in Germany on charges of espionage for Russia, Bild reported.

His trial begins in Dusseldorf.

The newspaper noted that the employee was not detained.

Federal prosecutors accuse him of "acting as an intelligence officer against Germany and its NATO partner, the United States."

Between 2014 and 2020, Ralph G., who also worked for the Dusseldorf Chamber of Commerce, leaked information and documents to Russian intelligence services through emails and in-person meetings, including information on the structure and functioning of the troops and their cyber capabilities.

The ex-serviceman was not paid for his services.

In return, he is invited to events organized by Russian state agencies.

From October 2014 to March 2020, Ralph G. worked for the Russian Central Intelligence Agency, Spiegel also specified.

Communication took place through personal meetings, phone calls, emails and WhatsApp messenger.

According to "Spiegel", the lieutenant colonel provided the Russian side with information about the reservists - he was the deputy head of the regional liaison command in North Rhine-Westphalia and a liaison officer for civil-military cooperation.

It also transmits information about the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr's weapons systems or the cyber capabilities of the troops.

Much of this information is obtained from publicly available sources such as think tanks and newspapers.

Leading Russian scientist arrested on suspicion of treason

However, according to the investigation, among the documents handed over to the Russian side was at least one "dangerous document" of the Bundeswehr.

These are excerpts from the draft White Paper of 2016, a document that contains the main directions of the country's military and political strategy.

The prosecution believes that the accused exported this data when it was still intended for internal use.

In addition, Ralph G. sent contact information and resumes of military commanders to Russia.

According to Spiegel, the officer was connected to Mikhail Starov, accredited to the Russian embassy in Germany, as well as to military attaché Andrei Sivov.

espionage

lawsuit