Scandalul de spionaj din Germania. Fostul șef al BND ar fi dat documente unui agent azer • Newsweek România

The arrest of former BND chief August Hanning for allegedly passing classified documents to an Azerbaijani agent has raised significant concerns in Germany and among its allies. Hanning, 80, reportedly transmitted documents for financial gain, a claim denied by Azerbaijan. This incident is being described as the most serious espionage scandal in Germany since reunification, with comparisons drawn to the Günter Guillaume case that led to a government collapse in 1974. After retirement, Hanning acquired classified documents from a former subordinate and used them to sell information through a private consultancy. Authorities indicate he received around 2,000 documents over 12 years, using some for analyses for foreign intelligence services. The German government is treating the case with utmost seriousness and is supporting the investigation.