Die Zeit, which first broke the story, said the officials being investigated were closely involved in energy supply matters and held key positions. The economy ministry and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the country’s domestic intelligence agency, would not comment on the reports. The finance ministry would only say that it was in constant dialogue with the BfV and that the ministry had come “under particular focus” because of its work on tackling the energy crisis. Die Zeit said it knew the names and salaries of the employees under suspicion, but was not at liberty to publish them. The workers have been described as having a “pro-Russian stance” and are suspected of trying to obstruct Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s policies in recent months. The newspaper reported that it was members of the Green party, to which Habeck belongs, who brought the complaint to the BfV, possibly under the direction of Habeck himself. Habeck was an opponent of the now-dormant Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline long before it was abandoned by the German government in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Die Zeit suggested that officials who had worked on the pipeline project under Habeck’s predecessor, Peter Altmaier, who described it as a “sovereign national energy project”, could find it difficult to accept the reversal of German management when the plan is complete. it was abolished in February. Die Zeit reported that internal ministry documents on Nord Stream 2 appeared to contradict the government’s new stance on it and supported Moscow’s position. Inconsistencies in communication are also related to the level of natural gas in Germany’s storage facilities, Die Zeit said, referring to a mechanism seen as critical to the country’s ability to weather the winter. Die Zeit said that according to its contacts, the suspects’ CVs were examined and found to have “biographical peculiarities”, including time spent studying in Russia and evidence of “emotional closeness to Russia”. It has been pointed out that this in itself could not be considered damning, as it could be true of many German officials, particularly an older generation who grew up in communist East Germany, where learning Russian was compulsory, and those who chose to study the tongue after the fall. of the Berlin Wall. There is no indication of what the specific allegation is about or whether the officials are accused of taking money from Moscow or acting on conviction. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Whatever the outcome, it is yet another burden on Habeck at an already difficult time for his ministry as it tries to maneuver away from its dependence on Russian oil and gas and, more immediately, secure an energy supply for the Europe’s largest economy for the winter. . Habeck is considered Germany’s most popular politician, praised for his clear communication in explaining how the government hopes to lift the country out of its doldrums. He is even rumored to be chancellor. But in recent days he has criticized a planned “gas levy” to secure energy supplies that would be financed by consumers and paid to energy companies, even those that have seen their profits soar due to energy inflation. Habeck has acknowledged his flaws and pledged to restructure the fund. The latest allegations risk eroding confidence among ministry officials in Habek at a time when he needs it most, observers said. Some officials are said to be angry that they are under general suspicion. Die Zeit’s deputy editor and security expert, Holger Stark, said that if the case were confirmed it would amount to “a fiasco for the German government and a triumph for the Kremlin, which would have succeeded in placing one or more moles so high. as one of the most important ministries”.


title: “German Civil Servants Investigated For Spying For Russia Germany Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Thomas Roys”


Die Zeit, which first broke the story, said the officials being investigated were closely involved in energy supply matters and held key positions. The economy ministry and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the country’s domestic intelligence agency, would not comment on the reports. The finance ministry would only say that it was in constant dialogue with the BfV and that the ministry had come “under particular focus” because of its work on tackling the energy crisis. Die Zeit said it knew the names and salaries of the employees under suspicion, but was not at liberty to publish them. The workers have been described as having a “pro-Russian stance” and are suspected of trying to obstruct Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s policies in recent months. The newspaper reported that it was members of the Green party, to which Habeck belongs, who brought the complaint to the BfV, possibly under the direction of Habeck himself. Habeck was an opponent of the now-dormant Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline long before it was abandoned by the German government in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Die Zeit suggested that officials who had worked on the pipeline project under Habeck’s predecessor, Peter Altmaier, who described it as a “sovereign national energy project”, could find it difficult to accept the reversal of German management when the plan is complete. it was abolished in February. Die Zeit reported that internal ministry documents on Nord Stream 2 appeared to contradict the government’s new stance on it and supported Moscow’s position. Inconsistencies in communication are also related to the level of natural gas in Germany’s storage facilities, Die Zeit said, referring to a mechanism seen as critical to the country’s ability to weather the winter. Die Zeit said that according to its contacts, the suspects’ CVs were examined and found to have “biographical peculiarities”, including time spent studying in Russia and evidence of “emotional closeness to Russia”. It has been pointed out that this in itself could not be considered damning, as it could be true of many German officials, particularly an older generation who grew up in communist East Germany, where learning Russian was compulsory, and those who chose to study the tongue after the fall. of the Berlin Wall. There is no indication of what the specific allegation is about or whether the officials are accused of taking money from Moscow or acting on conviction. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Whatever the outcome, it is yet another burden on Habeck at an already difficult time for his ministry as it tries to maneuver away from its dependence on Russian oil and gas and, more immediately, secure an energy supply for the Europe’s largest economy for the winter. . Habeck is considered Germany’s most popular politician, praised for his clear communication in explaining how the government hopes to lift the country out of its doldrums. He is even rumored to be chancellor. But in recent days he has criticized a planned “gas levy” to secure energy supplies that would be financed by consumers and paid to energy companies, even those that have seen their profits soar due to energy inflation. Habeck has acknowledged his flaws and pledged to restructure the fund. The latest allegations risk eroding confidence among ministry officials in Habek at a time when he needs it most, observers said. Some officials are said to be angry that they are under general suspicion. Die Zeit’s deputy editor and security expert, Holger Stark, said that if the case were confirmed it would amount to “a fiasco for the German government and a triumph for the Kremlin, which would have succeeded in placing one or more moles so high. as one of the most important ministries”.


title: “German Civil Servants Investigated For Spying For Russia Germany Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-31” author: “Christine Ray”


Die Zeit, which first broke the story, said the officials being investigated were closely involved in energy supply matters and held key positions. The economy ministry and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the country’s domestic intelligence agency, would not comment on the reports. The finance ministry would only say that it was in constant dialogue with the BfV and that the ministry had come “under particular focus” because of its work on tackling the energy crisis. Die Zeit said it knew the names and salaries of the employees under suspicion, but was not at liberty to publish them. The workers have been described as having a “pro-Russian stance” and are suspected of trying to obstruct Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s policies in recent months. The newspaper reported that it was members of the Green party, to which Habeck belongs, who brought the complaint to the BfV, possibly under the direction of Habeck himself. Habeck was an opponent of the now-dormant Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline long before it was abandoned by the German government in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Die Zeit suggested that officials who had worked on the pipeline project under Habeck’s predecessor, Peter Altmaier, who described it as a “sovereign national energy project”, could find it difficult to accept the reversal of German management when the plan is complete. it was abolished in February. Die Zeit reported that internal ministry documents on Nord Stream 2 appeared to contradict the government’s new stance on it and supported Moscow’s position. Inconsistencies in communication are also related to the level of natural gas in Germany’s storage facilities, Die Zeit said, referring to a mechanism seen as critical to the country’s ability to weather the winter. Die Zeit said that according to its contacts, the suspects’ CVs were examined and found to have “biographical peculiarities”, including time spent studying in Russia and evidence of “emotional closeness to Russia”. It has been pointed out that this in itself could not be considered damning, as it could be true of many German officials, particularly an older generation who grew up in communist East Germany, where learning Russian was compulsory, and those who chose to study the tongue after the fall. of the Berlin Wall. There is no indication of what the specific allegation is about or whether the officials are accused of taking money from Moscow or acting on conviction. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Whatever the outcome, it is yet another burden on Habeck at an already difficult time for his ministry as it tries to maneuver away from its dependence on Russian oil and gas and, more immediately, secure an energy supply for the Europe’s largest economy for the winter. . Habeck is considered Germany’s most popular politician, praised for his clear communication in explaining how the government hopes to lift the country out of its doldrums. He is even rumored to be chancellor. But in recent days he has criticized a planned “gas levy” to secure energy supplies that would be financed by consumers and paid to energy companies, even those that have seen their profits soar due to energy inflation. Habeck has acknowledged his flaws and pledged to restructure the fund. The latest allegations risk eroding confidence among ministry officials in Habek at a time when he needs it most, observers said. Some officials are said to be angry that they are under general suspicion. Die Zeit’s deputy editor and security expert, Holger Stark, said that if the case were confirmed it would amount to “a fiasco for the German government and a triumph for the Kremlin, which would have succeeded in placing one or more moles so high. as one of the most important ministries”.


title: “German Civil Servants Investigated For Spying For Russia Germany Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-22” author: “Randolph Quinones”


Die Zeit, which first broke the story, said the officials being investigated were closely involved in energy supply matters and held key positions. The economy ministry and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the country’s domestic intelligence agency, would not comment on the reports. The finance ministry would only say that it was in constant dialogue with the BfV and that the ministry had come “under particular focus” because of its work on tackling the energy crisis. Die Zeit said it knew the names and salaries of the employees under suspicion, but was not at liberty to publish them. The workers have been described as having a “pro-Russian stance” and are suspected of trying to obstruct Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s policies in recent months. The newspaper reported that it was members of the Green party, to which Habeck belongs, who brought the complaint to the BfV, possibly under the direction of Habeck himself. Habeck was an opponent of the now-dormant Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline long before it was abandoned by the German government in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Die Zeit suggested that officials who had worked on the pipeline project under Habeck’s predecessor, Peter Altmaier, who described it as a “sovereign national energy project”, could find it difficult to accept the reversal of German management when the plan is complete. it was abolished in February. Die Zeit reported that internal ministry documents on Nord Stream 2 appeared to contradict the government’s new stance on it and supported Moscow’s position. Inconsistencies in communication are also related to the level of natural gas in Germany’s storage facilities, Die Zeit said, referring to a mechanism seen as critical to the country’s ability to weather the winter. Die Zeit said that according to its contacts, the suspects’ CVs were examined and found to have “biographical peculiarities”, including time spent studying in Russia and evidence of “emotional closeness to Russia”. It has been pointed out that this in itself could not be considered damning, as it could be true of many German officials, particularly an older generation who grew up in communist East Germany, where learning Russian was compulsory, and those who chose to study the tongue after the fall. of the Berlin Wall. There is no indication of what the specific allegation is about or whether the officials are accused of taking money from Moscow or acting on conviction. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Whatever the outcome, it is yet another burden on Habeck at an already difficult time for his ministry as it tries to maneuver away from its dependence on Russian oil and gas and, more immediately, secure an energy supply for the Europe’s largest economy for the winter. . Habeck is considered Germany’s most popular politician, praised for his clear communication in explaining how the government hopes to lift the country out of its doldrums. He is even rumored to be chancellor. But in recent days he has criticized a planned “gas levy” to secure energy supplies that would be financed by consumers and paid to energy companies, even those that have seen their profits soar due to energy inflation. Habeck has acknowledged his flaws and pledged to restructure the fund. The latest allegations risk eroding confidence among ministry officials in Habek at a time when he needs it most, observers said. Some officials are said to be angry that they are under general suspicion. Die Zeit’s deputy editor and security expert, Holger Stark, said that if the case were confirmed it would amount to “a fiasco for the German government and a triumph for the Kremlin, which would have succeeded in placing one or more moles so high. as one of the most important ministries”.