Two Germans accused of selling classified information to Russia on the Eurofighter 2000

Published: 8/18/1999

The German General Prosecutor's Office has officially presented two Germans suspected of espionage for Russia, who were arrested ten days ago with bills of indictment. According to the German magazine, Fokus, it is alleged that they were trying to obtain technical documents, relating to the Eurofighter 2000: a multipurpose combat aircraft that is supposed the standard in European NATO states. Neither suspect has been named, but one is believed to have worked at Lenkflugkoerper Systeme, a company specialising in modifying the missiles that the fighter carries. It is claimed that he sold classified documents to another party, believed to be a Russian agent. It is further alleged that the same German suspect brought the documents to Moscow, and was paid $100,000 for each delivery. Fokus reports that the German secret services were alerted to the activities of the men by a former Stasi officer. Experts of the German Defence Ministry are now trying to evaluate the damage. Eva Schoebel, of the General Prosecutor's Office, said that: "This is a textbook case of espionage with dire consequences." If the allegations are substantiated, the German Ambassador to Moscow will deliver a protest note to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Intelligence Service would neither confirm nor deny the investigation.

Article ID: 763