Berlin: German prosecutors announced Thursday that a member of Germany's foreign intelligence service has been detained on charges of treason for allegedly providing Russia with access to classified information.
The German national, identified only as Carsten L in accordance with German privacy laws, was detained in Berlin on Wednesday, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.
According to prosecutors, the BND employee's apartment and workplace as well as another person's apartment were searched. The identity of the other person was not disclosed by the prosecution.
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He claimed that the BND employee gave the unnamed Russian intelligence agency "information that he had obtained in the course of his professional activity this year". He also said that the information was a "state secret" as defined by German law, but he did not elaborate further.
The suspect was brought before a judge on Thursday, who ordered that he be held pending possible indictment, according to prosecutors. He claimed that the investigation was being conducted "in close co-operation" with the BND.
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The director of the BND, Bruno Kahl, claimed that after an internal investigation confirmed information about a possible case of treason, the intelligence service immediately contacted prosecutors. He claimed that searches were carried out at two BND properties.
According to Kahl, the intelligence service would not comment further until further notice, as "caution and discretion are very important in this particular matter."
Furthermore, he added that "every detail of this incident that becomes public means an advantage for this adversary intent on harming Germany." He cited Russia's alleged "dishonesty and propensity for violence".
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A former BND employee has been found guilty of breaking Germany's official secrets law and given an eight-year prison sentence in a previous case involving a suspected double agent at the organisation. The former employee primarily provided classified information to the CIA.
Germany is one of the nations that has supported Ukraine economically and militarily as it resists Russian aggression.