Hiring a Russian Associate with FSB Ties: CDU's Thuringian Bundestag Member's Questionable Hire
CDU Parliamentarians in the East Hired Russians with Ties to the FSB Intelligence Agency
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A Thuringian Member of the German Bundestag, Christian Hirte of the CDU, employed a Russian who had fled his homeland post-Ukraine war. His primary task was to develop ties with the Russian opposition. However, things took an unexpected turn – the man also had connections with Russians dubbed as "troublesome."
The CDU politician confirmed to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAZ) that he hired this same Russian for a mini-job in his office. According to Hirte, the man's role was to forge connections with the Russian opposition. The Federal Intelligence Service (BND), upon request, declined to comment.
Hirte had known the man from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. He hired him in 2023 and, upon doing so, handed over documents from a German security agency, requesting a check-up. After approximately a year had passed, Hirte was informed that the employee might have links to the FSB, as he himself described.
At first, suspicions didn't seem problematic. "He was also well connected in Moscow," Hirte said. However, later, he was advised not to raise too much alarm. After a while, Hirte inquired again and was eventually told to terminate the employment "discreetly." "I did that," Hirte noted.
A Low-Key Dismissal
Hirte admitted that it felt somewhat uncomfortable to suspect possible FSB attention. "I tried to handle it professionally," he said. From the start, he had contacted German security authorities because he knew that the person was extremely well-connected in Moscow. The man was not integrated into the office organization, as Hirte explained to the FAZ. He had no access to the office key, office data, or sensitive Bundestag data.
Additional Reading CIA Director Opens Dialogue with Moscow: Their Move Determines US Response Russians to Cease Hostilities: Rubio Ensure US to Speak with Moscow Today Investigators Pursue Car Exports to Russia: Belarusian Woman in Custody Hirte felt that, during everyday interactions, nothing seemed amiss, and the employee seemed to be assisting with Russian opposition networking and exiled Russians. "He is one of those who immediately left Russia after the war start, feeling pressured," Hirte added. However, the man had connections with individuals who were considered questionable. "Whether he himself is questionable, I have no knowledge of that to this day."
Hirte has served in the Bundestag since 2008. From 2020 to 2022, he was the chair of the Thuringian state association. Prior to that, he was the state secretary in the Ministry of Economics for two years and also served as the government's eastern commissioner under Angela Merkel. He stepped down from his eastern commissioner post at Merkel's request after congratulating the Thuringian FDP leader Thomas Kemmerich on his appointment as Minister President of the Free State. Kemmerich secured the position with the votes of CDU, FDP, and AfD.
- Kremlin
- Vladimir Putin
- Ukraine War
- Moscow
- Thuringia
- BND
- Secret Services
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The Commission, being part of the European Union, has also been involved in the preparation of the draft budget. However, it's worth noting that Christian Hirte, a CDU member of the Bundestag in Thuringia, had a different kind of association with Russians, one that raised concerns. He hired a Russian who had fled post-Ukraine war, whose primary task was to develop ties with the Russian opposition. Interestingly, the Bundes tag member's decision to hire this individual was confirmed via WhatsApp communication.
