LAST SUMMER, GERMAN EMBASSY staff in Russia issued an entry visa to a Russian national, despite warnings by at least two European security agencies that he was a known intelligence officer, according to a report.
The incident has fueled persistent allegations that Berlin’s counterintelligence posture against Russia is ineffective.
According to the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel,
it was in July of this year when the German Embassy in Moscow received
an application for an entry visa to Germany by a Russian national. The
application included an official invitation issued to the visa applicant
by the Russian Consulate General in the eastern German city of Leipzig.
However, the application prompted a strong counterintelligence warning
by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV),
Germany’s domestic security agency. According to Spiegel,
at least one more European intelligence agency warned against allowing
the Russian national to travel to Western Europe. The reason for the
warnings was that the visa applicant was known to operate
internationally under diplomatic cover, on behalf of a Russian
intelligence agency.
The counterintelligence warnings were
examined and caused the visa application to be rejected. However, a
month later the applicant submitted a second application for an entry
visa to Germany. Remarkably, the German embassy approved the second
application, after “no longer recogni[zing] any suspicion of espionage”
in association with this case. One possible reason, according to Spiegel,
was that Russian officials had applied pressure on the German
government, asking for a review of the application. When the issue was
raised in Berlin, an internal review was launched. It reportedly found
that the espionage warnings had been “overlooked due to an
[administrative] error”. The visa was thus promptly canceled. Der Spiegel claims it is “possible that the accidental visa issue was related to [Berlin] wanting to show good will to the Russian side”.
What does that mean? Back in April, Germany expelled
40 suspected Russian intelligence officers, in response to Russian war
crimes in Ukraine. As expected, Russia promptly expelled an equal number
of German diplomats in a tit-for-tat move. The Russian Foreign Ministry
made sure to point out that it would respond in a similar fashion,
should Berlin choose to expel more Russian diplomats in the future. Such
an eventuality, according to Spiegel, would run the risk of
decimating Germany’s diplomatic presence in Russia, given that its size
is considerably smaller than that of Russia’s in Germany. Germany, in
other words, is not prepared to risk a complete breakdown in its
diplomatic relations with Russia.
Some claim, however, that the current arrangement between the two countries is being exploited by the Kremlin. Der Spiegel
notes that, according to intelligence experts, no European country
hosts more Russian intelligence officers under diplomatic cover than
Germany. It is estimated that at least 100 bogus diplomats are currently
stationed in Russia’s diplomatic facilities throughout Germany.
fecha |
Título |
23/11/2023| |
|
14/11/2023| |
|
06/11/2023| |
|
30/10/2023| |
|
25/10/2023| |
|
23/10/2023| |
|
09/10/2023| |
|
02/10/2023| |
|
19/09/2023| |
|
12/09/2023| |
|
01/09/2023| |
|
28/08/2023| |
|
23/08/2023| |
|
21/08/2023| |
|
16/08/2023| |
|
14/08/2023| |
|
10/08/2023| |
|
07/08/2023| |
|
31/07/2023| |
|
12/07/2023| |
|
11/07/2023| |
|
03/07/2023| |
|
28/06/2023| |
|
25/06/2023| |
|
21/06/2023| |
|
19/06/2023| |
|
12/06/2023| |
|
08/06/2023| |
|
06/06/2023| |
|
05/06/2023| |
|
02/06/2023| |
|
29/05/2023| |
|
24/05/2023| |
|
18/05/2023| |
|
16/05/2023| |
|
13/05/2023| |
|
11/05/2023| |
|
08/05/2023| |
|
05/05/2023| |
|
04/05/2023| |
|
01/05/2023| |
|
18/04/2023| |
|
17/04/2023| |
|
10/04/2023| |
|
03/04/2023| |
|
27/03/2023| |
|
20/03/2023| |
|
17/03/2023| |
|
15/03/2023| |
|
13/03/2023| |
|
08/03/2023| |
|
07/03/2023| |
|
27/02/2023| |
|
21/02/2023| |
|
20/02/2023| |
|
14/02/2023| |
|
13/02/2023| |
|
06/02/2023| |
|
04/02/2023| |
|
01/02/2023| |
|
30/01/2023| |
|
24/01/2023| |
|
18/01/2023| |
|
16/01/2023| |
|
11/01/2023| |
|
10/01/2023| |
|
08/01/2023| |
|
05/01/2023| |
|
03/01/2023| |
|
02/01/2023| |
|
13/12/2022| |
|
05/12/2022| |
|
28/11/2022| |
|
15/11/2022| |
|
08/11/2022| |
|
31/10/2022| |
|
21/10/2022| |
|
17/10/2022| |
|
04/10/2022| |
|
26/09/2022| |
|
19/09/2022| |
|
12/09/2022| |
|
05/09/2022| |
|
26/08/2022| |
|
21/08/2022| |
|
08/08/2022| |
|
05/08/2022| |
|
03/08/2022| |
|
28/07/2022| |
|
25/07/2022| |
|
21/07/2022| |
|
14/07/2022| |
|
12/07/2022| |
|
09/07/2022| |
|
22/06/2022| |
|
13/06/2022| |
|
25/05/2022| |
|
16/05/2022| |
|
12/05/2022| |
|
06/05/2022| |
|
05/05/2022| |
|
02/05/2022| |
|
25/04/2022| |
|
23/04/2022| |
|
21/04/2022| |
|
14/04/2022| |
|
13/04/2022| |
|
08/04/2022| |
|
31/03/2022| |
|
28/03/2022| |
|
25/03/2022| |
|
24/03/2022| |
|
21/03/2022| |
|
15/03/2022| |
|
14/03/2022| |
|
12/03/2022| |
|
04/03/2022| |
|
01/03/2022| |
|
27/02/2022| |
|
25/02/2022| |
|
24/02/2022| |
|
23/02/2022| |
|
21/02/2022| |
|
14/02/2022| |
|
10/02/2022| |
|
08/02/2022| |
|
07/02/2022| |
|
04/02/2022| |
|
01/02/2022| |
|
31/01/2022| |
|
28/01/2022| |
|
26/01/2022| |
|
25/01/2022| |
|
24/01/2022| |
|
23/01/2022| |
|
21/01/2022| |
|
14/01/2022| |
|
12/01/2022| |
|
11/01/2022| |
|
10/01/2022| |
|
07/01/2022| |
|
05/01/2022| |
|
03/01/2022| |
|
30/12/2021| |
|
23/12/2021| |
|
22/12/2021| |
|
21/12/2021| |
|
20/12/2021| |
|
16/12/2021| |
|
14/12/2021| |
|
11/12/2021| |
|
09/12/2021| |
|
04/12/2021| |
|
02/12/2021| |
|
01/12/2021| |
|
29/11/2021| |
|
21/11/2021| |
|
19/11/2021| |
|
16/11/2021| |
|
15/11/2021| |
|
11/11/2021| |
|
10/11/2021| |
|
08/11/2021| |
|
06/11/2021| |
|
05/11/2021| |
|
01/11/2021| |
|
30/10/2021| |
|
28/10/2021| |
|
27/10/2021| |
|
26/10/2021| |
|
20/07/2021| |
|
19/07/2021| |
|
18/07/2021| |
|
15/07/2021| |
|
13/07/2021| |
|
10/07/2021| |
|
07/07/2021| |
|
05/07/2021| |
|
04/07/2021| |
|
01/07/2021| |
|
29/06/2021| |
|
28/06/2021| |
|
24/06/2021| |
|
23/06/2021| |
|
22/06/2021| |
|
15/06/2021| |
|
13/06/2021| |
|
12/06/2021| |
|
08/06/2021| |
|
07/06/2021| |
|
04/06/2021| |
|
03/06/2021| |
|
01/06/2021| |
|
28/05/2021| |
|
27/05/2021| |
|
26/03/2021| |
|
25/03/2021| |
|
23/03/2021| |
|
21/03/2021| |
|
15/03/2021| |
|
10/03/2021| |
|
09/03/2021| |
|
10/12/2020| |
|
09/12/2020| |
|
07/12/2020| |
|
03/12/2020| |
|
02/12/2020| |
|
30/11/2020| |
|
25/11/2020| |
|
23/11/2020| |
|
20/11/2020| |
|
19/11/2020| |
|
29/10/2020| |
|
27/10/2020| |
|
22/10/2020| |
|
21/10/2020| |
|
17/10/2020| |
|
14/10/2020| |
|
12/10/2020| |
|
09/10/2020| |
|
07/10/2020| |
|
03/10/2020| |
|
25/09/2020| |
|
23/09/2020| |
|
21/09/2020| |
|
19/09/2020| |
|
18/09/2020| |
|
15/09/2020| |
|
14/09/2020| |
|
07/09/2020| |
|
05/09/2020| |
|
01/09/2020| |
|
30/08/2020| |
|
27/08/2020| |
|
27/08/2020| |
|
24/08/2020| |
|
20/08/2020| |
|
19/08/2020| |
|
14/08/2020| |
|
13/08/2020| |
|
11/08/2020| |
|
10/08/2020| |
|
09/08/2020| |
|
08/08/2020| |
|
06/08/2020| |
|
05/08/2020| |
|
04/08/2020| |
|
02/08/2020| |
|
30/07/2020| |
|
28/07/2020| |
|
22/07/2020| |
|
21/07/2020| |
|
20/07/2020| |
|
18/07/2020| |
|
17/07/2020| |
|
14/07/2020| |
|
12/07/2020| |
|
11/07/2020| |
|
09/07/2020| |
|
08/07/2020| |
|
05/07/2020| |
|
01/07/2020| |
|
29/06/2020| |
|
25/06/2020| |
|
23/06/2020| |
|
21/06/2020| |
|
19/06/2020| |
|
17/06/2020| |
|
16/06/2020| |
|
09/06/2020| |
|
07/06/2020| |
|
03/06/2020| |
|
31/05/2020| |
|
30/05/2020| |
|
29/05/2020| |
|
27/05/2020| |
|
22/05/2020| |
|
19/05/2020| |
|
17/05/2020| |
|
12/05/2020| |
|
11/05/2020| |
|
09/05/2020| |
|
07/05/2020| |
|
04/05/2020| |
|
02/05/2020| |
|
28/04/2020| |
|
08/03/2020| |
|
06/03/2020| |
|
04/03/2020| |
|
21/02/2020| |
|
19/02/2020| |
|
14/02/2020| |
|
13/02/2020| |
|
07/02/2020| |
|
06/02/2020| |
|
06/02/2020| |
|
23/01/2020| |
|
18/01/2020| |
|
16/01/2020| |
|
07/01/2020| |
|
05/01/2020| |
|
03/01/2020| |
|
23/12/2019| |
|
20/12/2019| |
|
16/12/2019| |
|
15/12/2019| |
|
14/12/2019| |
|
12/12/2019| |
|
11/12/2019| |
|
10/12/2019| |
|
08/12/2019| |
|
25/11/2019| |
|
23/11/2019| |
|
22/11/2019| |
|
18/11/2019| |
|
15/11/2019| |
|
12/11/2019| |
|
11/11/2019| |
|
10/11/2019| |
|
09/11/2019| |
|
08/11/2019| |
|
07/11/2019| |
|
06/11/2019| |
|
28/10/2019| |
|
24/10/2019| |
|
23/10/2019| |
|
21/10/2019| |
|
20/10/2019| |
|
19/10/2019| |
|
18/10/2019| |
|
17/10/2019| |
|
16/10/2019| |
|
15/10/2019| |
|
15/10/2019| |
|
13/10/2019| |
|
03/10/2019| |
|
01/10/2019| |
|
30/09/2019| |
|
29/09/2019| |
|
18/09/2019| |
|
16/09/2019| |
|
15/09/2019| |
|
14/09/2019| |
|
11/09/2019| |
|
10/09/2019| |
|
07/09/2019| |
|
05/09/2019| |
|
01/09/2019| |
|
31/08/2019| |
|
30/08/2019| |
|
29/08/2019| |
|
24/08/2019| |
|
23/08/2019| |
|
22/08/2019| |
|
20/08/2019| |
|
19/08/2019| |
|
18/08/2019| |
|
17/08/2019| |
|
13/08/2019| |
|
11/08/2019| |
|
10/08/2019| |
|
09/08/2019| |
|
02/08/2019| |
|
31/07/2019| |
|
30/07/2019| |
|
29/07/2019| |
|
19/07/2019| |
|
18/07/2019| |
|
17/07/2019| |
|
16/07/2019| |
|
12/07/2019| |
|
05/07/2019| |
|
04/07/2019| |
|
01/07/2019| |
|
29/06/2019| |
|
26/06/2019| |
|
28/12/2018| |
|
28/12/2018| |
|
24/12/2018| |
|
21/12/2018| |
|
18/12/2018| |
|
15/12/2018| |
|
14/12/2018| |
|
11/12/2018| |
|
09/12/2018| |
|
07/12/2018| |
|
06/12/2018| |
|
03/12/2018| |
|
02/12/2018| |
|
30/11/2018| |
|
29/11/2018| |
|
27/11/2018| |
|
25/11/2018| |
|
24/11/2018| |
|
08/11/2018| |
|
07/11/2018| |
|
04/11/2018| |
|
03/11/2018| |
|
31/10/2018| |
|
19/10/2018| |
|
16/10/2018| |
|
12/10/2018| |
|
11/10/2018| |
|
08/10/2018| |
|
06/10/2018| |
|
05/10/2018| |
|
25/09/2018| |
|
23/09/2018| |
|
22/09/2018| |
|
20/09/2018| |
|
18/09/2018| |
|
13/09/2018| |
|
11/09/2018| |
|
08/09/2018| |
|
07/09/2018| |
|
05/09/2018| |
|
04/09/2018| |
|
02/09/2018| |
|
01/09/2018| |
|
29/08/2018| |
|
24/08/2018| |
|
23/08/2018| |
|
18/08/2018| |
|
16/08/2018| |
|
14/08/2018| |
|
13/08/2018| |
|
11/08/2018| |
|
05/08/2018| |
|
03/08/2018| |
|
02/08/2018| |
|
30/07/2018| |
|
26/07/2018| |
|
24/07/2018| |
|
19/07/2018| |
|
16/07/2018| |
|
16/07/2018| |
|
16/07/2018| |
|
12/07/2018| |
|
11/07/2018| |
|
02/07/2018| |
|
29/06/2018| |
|
26/06/2018| |
|
23/06/2018| |
|
19/06/2018| |
|
13/06/2018| |
|
12/06/2018| |
|
02/06/2018| |
|
31/05/2018| |
|
25/05/2018| |
|
21/05/2018| |
|
19/05/2018| |
|
18/05/2018| |
|
25/03/2018| |
|
24/03/2018| |
|
14/03/2018| |
|
10/03/2018| |
|
09/03/2018| |
|