Germany Arrests Russian Scientist For Spying For Moscow
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published June 21, 2021 | 03:40 PM
Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2021 ) :German police arrested a Russian scientist working at an unidentified university, accusing him of spying for Moscow, prosecutors said on Monday, in a case that risks further inflaming bilateral tensions.
Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect, identified only as Ilnur N., had been taken into custody on Friday on suspicion of "working for a Russian secret service since early October 2020 at the latest".
Ilnur N. was employed until the time of his arrest as a research assistant for a natural sciences and technology department at the unnamed German university.
German investigators believe he met at least three times with a member of Russian intelligence between October 2020 and this month. On two occasions he allegedly "passed on information from the university's domain".
He is suspected of accepting cash in exchange for his services.
German authorities searched his home and workplace in the course of the arrest.
The suspect appeared before a judge on Saturday who remanded him in custody.
- 'Completely unacceptable' - Neither the German nor the Russian government made any immediate comment on the case.
However Moscow is at loggerheads with a number of Western capitals after a Russian troop build-up on Ukraine's borders and a series of espionage scandals that have resulted in diplomatic expulsions.
Italy this month said it had created a national cybersecurity agency following warnings by Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Europe needed to protect itself from Russian "interference".
The move came after an Italian navy captain was caught red-handed by police while selling confidential military documents leaked from his computer to a Russian embassy official.
The leaders of nine eastern European nations last month condemned what they termed Russian "aggressive acts" citing operations in Ukraine and "sabotage" allegedly targeted at the Czech Republic.
Several central and eastern European countries have expelled Russian diplomats in solidarity with Prague but Russia has branded accusations of its involvement as "absurd" and responded with tit-for-tat expulsions.
The latest espionage case also comes at a time of highly strained relations between Russia and Germany on a number of fronts including the ongoing detention of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who received treatment in Berlin after a near-fatal poisoning.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has moreover worked to maintain a sanctions regime over Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the scene of ongoing fighting between pro-Russia separatists and local forces.
And Germany has repeatedly accused Russia of cyberattacks on its soil.
The most high-profile incident blamed on Russian hackers to date was a cyberattack in 2015 that completely paralysed the computer network of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, forcing the entire institution offline for days while it was fixed.
German prosecutors in February filed espionage charges against a German man suspected of having passed the floor plans of parliament to Russian secret services in 2017.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas last week said Germany was expecting to be the target of Russian disinformation in the run-up to its general election in September, calling it "completely unacceptable".
Russia denies being behind such activities.
Despite international criticism, Berlin has forged ahead with plans to finish the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, set to double natural gas supplies from Russia to Germany.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Shayan, Rashid, Junaid to represent Pakistan in U12 Regional Qualifying Jrs
Govt committed to empower youth with modern tech, IT: PM
Olympic Games Paris 2024: How teams qualified
LESCO detects 74,285 power pilferers in 219 days
RTO destroys huge quantity of non-duty paid cigarettes
Rain-windstorm/thunderstorm expected in most parts of country: PMD
Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves reach $ 13.28 billion
Pakistan to tour New Zealand for 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is next March
ENGRO announces strong results for 1st quarter 2024
RDA inflows rise to $7.660 bn in March 24
US economic growth slows significantly in first quarter
FPCCI welcomes direct flights between Pakistan-Azerbaijan
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
2 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
4 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
11 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago