Indictment Filed on Suspicion of Engaging in Intelligence Activities, Among Others

Year of issue 2024
Date 30.12.2024

On 9 December 2024, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against the German-Russian nationals

Dieter S.
Alexander J. and
Alex D.

before the State Security Chamber of the Munich Higher Regional Court.

There are sufficient grounds to suspect the accused of engaging in intelligence activities for a foreign intelligence service (section 99 paras. 1 and 2 of the German Criminal Code [StGB], as fas as Dieter S. is concerned also in conjunction with section 1 para. 1 no. 4 of the NATO Forces Protection Act). Dieter S. is furthermore charged with engaging in intelligence activities to commit acts of sabotage (section 87 para. 1 nos. 1 and 2, para. 2 no. 1 StGB), conspiring to cause an explosion and commit arson (section 30 para. 2 in conjunction with section 308 para. 1, section 306 para. 1 StGB), declaring himself willing to dangerously interfere with rail traffic (section 30 para. 2 in conjunction with section 315 paras. 1 and 3 StGB), and endangering national security by taking pictures and recording videos of military installations (section 109g para. 1 StGB).

In essence, the indictment sets out the following allegations:

Dieter S. is acquainted with an individual with whom he fought in an armed unit of the so-called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)’ in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014. Said individual is likewise associated with a Russian intelligence service. Since October 2023, Dieter S. was discussing potential acts of sabotage in Germany with his acquaintance. Such acts were in particular supposed to undermine the military support lent by Germany to Ukraine in its efforts against Russia’s war of aggression. In this context, the accused informed his contact that he was willing to carry out explosives and arson attacks, targeting in particular military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany. Furthermore, he declared that he would commit acts of sabotage against railway lines used to transport military equipment. Therefore, Dieter S. gathered information about potential targets in Bavaria, among them facilities of the U.S. Armed Forces and a train loading station in Upper Palatinate as well as a tool manufacturer. Alexander J. and Alex D. assisted him no later than March 2024. Dieter S. was on site to spy out some of the targeted facilities, taking photographs and recording videos of military transports and equipment. He shared the gathered intelligence with his contact.

Dieter S. and Alexander J. were arrested on 17 April 2024 (see Press Release no. 19 of 18 April 2024). Dieter S. has since been in pre-trial detention. The arrest warrant against Alexander J. has been suspended since 26 September 2024. Alex D. is not in custody. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office already indicted Dieter S. on suspicion of membership in the foreign terrorist organisation ‘Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)’ before the Munich Higher Regional Court on 18 October 2024 (see Press Release no. 57 of 31 October 2024).