# Former German spy chief arrested on espionage charges after at least seven trips to Russia

https://mins.news/en/item/88033

- Meduza, 2026-10-06 13:18 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/06/former-german-spy-chief-arrested-on-espionage-charges-he-made-at-least-seven-trips-to-russia-after-leaving-office

> Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office says former BND chief August Hanning was detained on suspicion of espionage and attempted treason, along with his former bureau chief, Manfred D. Investigators allege Hanning paid for classified information and obtained about 2,000 internal BND documents by 2022. He also made at least seven short trips to Russia between 2015 and 2019 and exchanged political information with foreign intelligence officers.

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