Russian spy in court in Munich!

He was supposed to spy on rocket research in Europe

Created: 02/14/2022, 18:25

By: Andreas Thieme

Artist's rendering of the James Webb Space Telescope folded inside the Ariane 5 rocket during launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

© D. Ducros/ESA/dpa/symbol image

The trial of a suspected Russian spy is eagerly awaited in Munich.

According to the Attorney General, the scientist spied on research into the European Ariane launch vehicle.

Munich - He is the spy who came in from the cold!

A espionage trial against a Russian scientist who is said to have spied on the European launch vehicle Ariane begins in the Higher Regional Court on Thursday.

Ilnur N. is said to have done this while working as a research assistant at the University of Augsburg and received a total of 2,500 euros for it.

Now he faces up to five years in prison!

The trial takes place in front of the state protection senate, the prosecution represents the federal prosecutor general.

There will be tension as to whether information about the work of the Russian foreign secret service SWR in Germany will become known beyond the specific case.

The court initially planned twelve days of hearing.

N., who is in custody, had worked at the University of Augsburg until his arrest in June 2021.

He has been employed there since 2018.

By autumn 2019 at the latest, agents are said to have approached him and recruited him for espionage work for Russia.

According to the indictment, the secret service was primarily interested in the development stages of the Ariane rocket.

The SWR was also interested in N.'s research on materials.

Munich: If the spy is convicted, he faces up to five years in prison

From the end of November 2019, there were regular personal management meetings between the spy and the senior officer of the Russian foreign intelligence service stationed in Germany.

On his behalf, N. passed on information on research projects in the field of aerospace technology at the meetings.

He received cash as payment, a total of 2,500 euros, according to the indictment.

Acting as an agent is punishable by a fine of up to five years in prison.

In serious cases there is even a risk of up to ten years in prison - however, this range of penalties is only applied if spies pass on information kept secret by the state.