Former BND president is said to have spied for Azerbaijan

New details are becoming known in the betrayal affair surrounding the ex-president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning. According to “Spiegel” information, investigators are investigating the suspicion that the former head of German foreign espionage was in contact with an agent from the Caucasus Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the investigation, Hanning is said to have obtained documents classified as “secret” through his former office manager at the BND, Manfred D., and used them to prepare a written analysis. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, this was intended for an "employee of a foreign intelligence security apparatus". The investigative agency did not say which country he worked for.

The ex-BND boss and former state secretary was arrested on Tuesday morning. The reason for the arrest is an investigation by the Federal Prosecutor General on the urgent suspicion of treasonous spying and spying on state secrets. Hanning is also accused of attempted treason and acting as a secret service agent.

At the same time as the attack on Hanning, investigators also arrested his ex-office manager Manfred D., who is accused of aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous spying.