May 27. () –
A court in the city of Dusseldorf has sentenced to three and a half years in prison an officer of the German Armed Forces who confessed to having participated in espionage activities for Russia and who, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, sought to help Russian authorities at the level political and military.
The accused, of whom only a few details have emerged – his name is Thomas H., he is 54 years old and held the rank of captain – worked for the institution in charge of equipping the Armed Forces and developing new technologies.
Since May 2023, he “offered” to cooperate with the Russian consulate in Bonn and also with the Embassy in Berlin, on his own initiative, as stated by the Prosecutor’s Office in the trial that took place at the Higher Regional Court in Dusseldorf.
The defense lawyers have alleged that their client, in a period of work stress, began to obtain information through Telegram and TikTok, which resulted in him receiving false information and propaganda. At this time, he also joined the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the main far-right party.
The accused, for his part, explained that he wanted to avoid a nuclear escalation in Ukraine, concerned for the safety of his own family, and expressed remorse. “It’s the biggest mistake of my entire life,” he cried during the hearings.
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