Germany accuses Russia of space tech spying

Amid growing global isolation, German prosecutors on Thursday arrested and charged a Russian citizen with spying for Russia.

According to the German authorities, the Russian citizen has passed the information on aerospace technology, in particular, the Ariane space launch vehicle, to Russian intelligence.

Federal prosecutors said the suspect, named only as Ilhur N, worked as a scientific researcher at a Bavarian university until his arrest on June 18 last year. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) first approached him no later than Autumn 2019.

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“The agency’s interests particularly targeted the various development stages of the European space launcher Ariane and the accused’s research into tools,” prosecutors said.

In exchange for regular meetings with an intelligence officer, he received 2,500 euros ($2,800) in cash, the German authorities have alleged in the court.

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