As of: April 2, 2024, 7:25 p.m
By: Yekaterina Jalunina
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Thorsten Frei (CDU), First Parliamentary Managing Director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in an interview with dpa in Berlin (archive image) © Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
In the Nord Stream 2 context, Russia is said to be trying to obtain NATO information. Defense Minister Pistorius has been criticized.
Berlin - The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has sharply criticized Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) for his handling of information about possible Russian attempts to intercept NATO data. Thorsten Frei, the parliamentary manager of the CDU/CSU MPs, complained in a letter to the minister that the response to a query regarding the possible disclosure of Bundeswehr secrets by authorities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was inadequate.
Frei calls on Pistorius to answer the Union faction's questions immediately, otherwise he will threaten legal action before the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The letter is available to the
German Press Agency
in Berlin.
Nord Stream 2: Criticism of suspected attempt to obtain NATO secret data
The criticism was sparked by reports that Russia attempted to obtain sensitive information about NATO submarine diving areas in the Baltic Sea as part of the approval process for the controversial natural gas pipeline. At the beginning of December, after questioning witnesses in the state committee of inquiry into the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate Foundation, members of the state parliament in Schwerin reported that Moscow had tried to obtain secret NATO data to the Baltic Sea through the approval process for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. In particular, it concerns a request that is said to have been sent to the Bundeswehr by the Stralsund Mining Authority on behalf of Nord Stream 2 in order to find out the coordinates of the submarine diving areas.
CDU politician calls on Pistorius to answer the Union's questions
On February 22nd, the Union parliamentary group presented a catalog of 18 questions to the federal government. They also referred to media reports that stated that military secrets of the Bundeswehr, in particular the number of shots fired in the Pomeranian Bay artillery firing area, were passed on to third parties without the government's consent and were partially published on the Internet. In its response to the
German Press Agency
, the Ministry of Defense points
out that dealing with the matter is very complex and time-consuming. “A comprehensive answer to some of the questions cannot be provided due to the unreasonable effort that would be associated with the survey,” says the letter dated March 25th.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. © Michael Kappeler/dpa
CDU/CSU parliamentary group: disregard for the parliamentary right to ask questions
Thorsten Frei is now accusing Pistorius' ministry of disregarding the parliamentary right of inquiry and information. The ministry's delayed and perceived incomplete response to the parliamentary group's request is viewed critically. Frei told the
German Press Agency
that it was “considerable that even answering a small question would overwhelm the Ministry of Defense.” He added: “If these are just pretextual reasons, it is a blatant disregard for Parliament.” The Defense Minister is “duty to comply with the parliamentary right to ask questions.” The ministry's response was only received weeks after the response deadline expired on March 7th.
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Ministry of Defense provides conditional information on Nord Stream 2
Despite the criticism, the Defense Ministry provided some information about submitted documents. Documents about the number of shots and calibers in the Pomeranian Bay artillery firing area as well as “a notification about the use of acoustic, optical and electromagnetic measuring devices” were sent to the Stralsund Mining Authority and to the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). To a specific question regarding the review of relevant employees by federal intelligence services - i.e. the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) or the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) - the ministry only answered in secrecy: "VS - For official use only “.
Ministry of Defense classifies response to Nord Stream 2 audit as secret
The ministry explained that disclosing the requested information carries the risk that details about the BND's findings could become known, which would allow conclusions to be drawn about its intelligence approaches and priorities. This, in turn, could give state and non-state actors insights into the BND's specific procedures and capabilities.
(dpa/jek)