The German interior minister, Nancy Fasser, wants to fire Arne Schönbohm, the head of the federal agency responsible for cyber security in the country. At issue are Schönbohm’s contacts with individuals linked to the Russian security services.
The information was presented by several German newspapers after an investigation revealed that a top manager with ties to the Kremlin was part of a technology syndicate. One of the companies that is part of the same association is a subsidiary of a Russian cyber security company founded by a former KGB agent and with ties to Russia’s current intelligence service, the FSB.
Schönbaum is one of the founders of the association “German Cyber Security Council eV”, which has been under the Ministry’s watch since its establishment in 2012. This association consists of the German National Cyber Security Council and its synonyms. The president, Hans-Wilhelm Dunn, has expressed views close to the Kremlin and ties to many Russians. oh Die Zeit newspaper guarantee A councilor in Potsdam for the CDU, Dunn has issued pro-Russian statements on several occasions and has been an election observer in Russia at the invitation of the Russian parliament, which includes representatives from parties such as the German AfD. , the French National Front and Matteo Salvini’s League.
Also, an earlier investigation by ZDF revealed that Protelion was part of the syndicate. German secret services suspect that this company has links with Russian intelligence services: the first warning came because the selling company Software Identified as domestically produced in Germany, it is actually manufactured by the Russian company Infotex. The company was founded by Vladislav Sherstyuk, a former KGB general and director of the electronic surveillance service working for the FSB.
According to Handelsblatt, the dismissal is being accelerated due to “great irritation” with the German cybersecurity director within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “The ministry instructed federal agency officials to stay away from the German Cyber Security Council eV, but Schönbohm insisted on giving a speech at the association’s anniversary in September. .
Bild newspaper quoted a ministry source as saying that the agency’s “quick transition in responsibilities is being explored”. Termination is not immediate because, according to Average For the Germans, civil service law prevents dismissal, so Schönbaum must be integrated into another service of the German public administration.
However, the news of the resignation was strengthened when it was announced this Monday that a meeting that Schönbohm and the minister were to appear together next Thursday had been cancelled.
Officially, the minister only confirmed that the matter is being investigated. “These are serious allegations and we will investigate them first and then take the necessary action,” said Nancy Feser. Schönbohm characterized the news alone as “absurd”.
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