The officer, with ties to the far-right AfD party, said he provided information to a Russian intelligence service out of fear of a nuclear escalation in Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

A member of Germany’s Bundeswehr went on trial in the western city of Düsseldorf on Monday, charged with espionage activities on behalf of Russia and leaking state secrets.

At the start of the trial, the defendant admitted that he had spied for Russia. He said his actions were driven by a fear of a nuclear escalation amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The officer was arrested on August 9 last year and the charges against him were made public on March 19.

    • @[email protected]
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      718 months ago

      Every right wing party, in every western democracy, is either benefitting from Russian agitprop, if not taking Russian money directly.

      Every. Single. One.

    • Flying SquidM
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      518 months ago

      From what I can tell from the outside, it looks like Russia has thoroughly infiltrated AfD from top to bottom.

      • @[email protected]
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        378 months ago

        Just like the Republicans here in the states. A curious correlation.

        Now if only our domestic counter-intelligence services would actually do something about that

        • @[email protected]
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          58 months ago

          That would be great. Wouldn’t it? It’s nice to dream. I also had dreams when I was young.

      • @breadsmasher
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        98 months ago

        Turns out entire party are spies, without realising, and spying on each other

    • @ABCDE
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      258 months ago

      Die Alternative ist Russland.

      • @DaBPunkt
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        48 months ago

        AfD=Außer für Deutschland

    • @Valmond
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      98 months ago

      Like French LePen and their facho party.