BERLIN: A 32-year-old former German spy has been convicted of violating the country’s official secrets law and sentenced to eight years in prison for providing classified information to the CIA and the Russians.
The dpa news agency reported Thursday that Markus R., whose last name wasn’t given in line with privacy laws, was found by the Munich state court to have sold some 200 highly classified documents to the CIA between 2008 and 2014 for 80,000 euros ($91,000). Among other things, he provided a list of German agents working abroad, giving both their names and cover identities.
He confessed during his trial, saying he acted out of frustration and boredom.
In 2014, shortly before his arrest, he also passed three “highly important” documents to the Russians but then broke off contact himself.
German spy convicted of selling classified documents to CIA
German spy convicted of selling classified documents to CIA
Germany takes delivery of Israeli-made underwater drone
- "The army said the Blue Whale was the navy’s “largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date“
- The device was tested in the Baltic Sea
BERLIN: The German navy on Wednesday said it had taken delivery of an Israeli-made Blue Whale underwater drone intended for reconnaissance and detecting “hybrid threats at sea.”
The autonomous underwater vehicle, developed by Israeli company IAI together with German submarine- and warship-maker TKMS, was received in the northern port of Eckernfoerde, the navy said in a statement.
The army on its website said the Blue Whale was the navy’s “largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date.”
The device was tested in the Baltic Sea, a flashpoint for tensions between Russia and NATO since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the army said.
Military experts and European leaders say Russia has ramped up its “hybrid war” in the strategic region — now bordered entirely by NATO members, with the exception of Russia — through airspace incursions and suspected sabotage of undersea cables.
TKMS said the Blue Whale was capable of “conducting reconnaissance operations, detecting targets above and below the sea surface, collecting acoustic information, and locating sea mines on the seabed.”
Israel and Germany have upped their defense cooperation in recent months and in January signed a security pact to expand joint work on counterterrorism and cyber defense.
In December, Germany approved a $3.1 billion expansion of a contract for the Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile defense system, which is Israeli-made and developed with US support.
