Russia-Ukraine war: German arrested for suspected treason, allegedly passing intelligence to Russia

Authorities in Germany arrested a man at Munich airport for suspicion of committing treason. The man was arrested for allegedly passing intelligence to Russia.

The prosecutor-general in Germany issued a statement on Thursday, reporting an arrest of a man at Munich airport upon arriving from the United States. The man, identified as Arthur E., was suspected of committing treason by allegedly cooperating with an intelligence service employee to pass information to Russia. Arthur E. is said to be an associate of Carsten L., who works at the country’s foreign intelligence service.

Carsten L. was arrested in December on suspicion of espionage on Moscow’s behalf. Arthur E., who is not an employee of the intelligence service, allegedly relayed information from Carsten L. to the Russian intelligence service. A warrant for Arthur E.’s arrest was already issued, and Arthur E. was brought before a judge in a top court in Germany on Monday and remained in custody.

The prosecutor said the probe was conducted in cooperation with the BND and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This comes as German authorities warned of increased spying for Russia amidst the stand-off between the Kremlin and the West over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 11 months ago in February last year.

On Friday, the Norwegian lawyer for a former commander of the Russian Wagner mercenary group told Reuters the former member has witnessed some of his colleagues being shot as they tried to flee from the frontlines in Ukraine.

Andrei Medvedev fled Russia by crossing the border it shares with Norway on January 13. Medvedev has since said he feared for his life after witnessing the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners that were recruited to fight on the ground in Ukraine.

Medvedev is residing in a secret location in Oslo after being released from detention on Wednesday after a “disagreement” with the police about the measures being taken to ensure his safety.

Medvedev’s lawyer Brynjulf Risnes told Reuters that his client has witnessed “incredibly horrible” situations while fighting for Wagner last year. According to Risnes, Medvedev said he saw the “shooting of his comrades” while he was watching as they tried to flee. Risnes said Medvedev was “slowly coming to terms with what’s happening.”