Arne Schönbom may have had contacts in Russia through the association of the German CyberSecurity Council.
The German Ministry of the Interior has fired the president of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Arne Schönbom, and is launching disciplinary proceedings against him. Spiegel reports.
“Since there was no response to the allegations, I myself requested on Monday to initiate disciplinary proceedings to clarify the facts. At the moment, I do not know what the ministry has investigated and what specific cases have been brought against mine,” Shenbom said.
It is noted that Shenbom ten years ago became one of the founders of the cybersecurity group, which brings together experts from government agencies and the private sector. German media reported that one of its members was a company founded by a former Russian intelligence officer.
The German government said more than a week ago that it was conducting a comprehensive investigation into these reports.
It has been reported that Schönbom may have had contacts with Russia through the controversial association of the German Cybersecurity Council.
The association has been criticized, among other things, for its membership of the Berlin-based cybersecurity company Protelion. Until the end of March, this company operated under the name Infotecs GmbH. It is a subsidiary of the Russian cybersecurity company OAOInfotecs, founded by a former KGB officer, according to Policy Network Analytics.
There has been long-standing dissatisfaction at the Home Office with Shenbom’s role and his relationship with the Cyber Security Council, which he founded, according to the DPA. Shenbom’s recent allegations and visit for the association’s anniversary were perhaps the last straw.
In 2019, the association’s president, Hans-Wilhelm Dunn, admitted that they had contacted Russian intelligence services to journalists from ARD and Die Zeit. It was noted that Schönbom was asked several times to distance himself from the German CyberSecurity Council.
Earlier, the media, citing intelligence data, wrote that the Russian authorities could commit political murders in Germany.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.