German intelligence employee and acquaintance charged with treason for passing secrets to Russia

An employee of Germany’s foreign intelligence service and an acquaintance have been charged with treason for allegedly passing secret documents to Russia, prosecutors said Friday.

The intelligence officer, who has been identified only as Carsten L. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in Berlin on Dec. 21 last year. The second suspect, a self-employed German businessman identified as Arthur E., was arrested at Munich airport on Jan. 22 as he arrived from the United States.

Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, said at the time of the first arrest that it brought in prosecutors immediately after internal investigations substantiated information about a possible case of treason.