A police officer seals the door of a house in Hamburg December 9, 2006.
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Germany Accuses Russia of Espionage
The German intelligence service has accused Russia and China of using spies and Internet technology to acquire industrial secrets that could seriously damage Europe’s largest economy. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the German counterintelligence service, states in its 2007 report to German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble that foreign intelligence agents are interested in a wide range of industrial targets, as well scientific and technological institutes. The report states that, besides special services agents, Russia uses “nonprofessional spies” – students and scientists.
Foreign intelligence targets not only large companies, but a large number of small, innovative companies as well, according to the report. Such small companies, which are often family-run, are the basis of the German economy. The counterintelligence office promises in its report to make greater efforts to help those companies protect themselves.
This is not the first time that Germany has made such accusations. Last year, Germany accused China of frequent cyber-attacks aimed at obtaining state and industrial information. Beijing has denied those accusations.
On June 9 of this year, the trial will begin of an employee of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. accused of providing Russian special services with information between May 2004 and December 2006 in exchange for money. That information, although intended for peaceful purposes, could be used for military goals as well. The suspect has confessed to the spying charges.
www.kommersant.com
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