DW reports on the August Hanning (former head of Germany's BND) spying scandal:
Manfred D. is alleged to have passed on nearly 2,000 BND documents — some of them highly sensitive — to Hanning over the course of several years in exchange for money. Hanning is then said to have used the information in his private consultancy business.
The most serious allegation is that Hanning is said to have maintained close contact with an employee of a foreign intelligence service for years and to have leaked classified information to him. It is not known which country was involved, but reports say it is not Russia.
Investigators also mention an analysis that Hanning is said to have prepared for an employee of another foreign intelligence service. However, it is not certain whether the analysis ever reached that person.
The classified information also concerned the routine meetings of the heads of German security agencies at the chancellery. Topics included, among other things, the Iranian nuclear program and analyses of the Russian armed forces.
Since intelligence from foreign partner agencies is also said to have been shared in this context, this could also undermine their trust in the German BND and lead to difficulties in future intelligence cooperation with Germany.
The alleged foreign intelligence service was Israeli.
But the way the MSM is reporting it makes it seem like it could be Russia.
The BBC, instead of claiming it was 'not Russia' like DW above, manages insert some 'alleged' Russian spying stuff into their story:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c58jzyer1kr0o
It is not the first time the BND has faced similar controversy. A high-ranking German intelligence officer was charged with treason in 2023 for allegedly passing state secrets to Russia.
Prosecutors alleged Carsten L shared intelligence about the war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group and received roughly €400,000 ($450,000; £340,000). His trial is ongoing.
Oh dear. Another crisis for the Mekon (Merz) to overcome.