arne Schönbohm is notably implicated for accepting a computer security company linked to Russia within an association he directed.
Le Monde with AFP
The head of the German cybersecurity agency (BSI), Arne Schönbohm, will be revoked after revelations reporting his links with an alleged association close to the Russian secret services, say several German media and the France- Press (AFP), citing government sources. “A change to the post of president of the BSI will intervene quickly,” said these sources.
Arne Schönbohm is implicated because of its alleged contacts with an association called Cyber-SicheRheitsrat Deutschland (“German cybersecurity council”), suspected of having contacts with the Russian intelligence circles. The Ministry of the Interior said “taking it seriously” the allegations against Arne Schönbohm and “surveying exhaustively” on this subject. These links have been the subject of investigations recently presented in The program of the public television channel zdf Magazin Royale, which mixes information and humor, very popular in Germany.
zdf Magazin Royale returned in particular to the presence within the Cyber-SicheRheitsrat Deutschland association of the company Protelion, partner of the Russian company Infotecs. The founder of Infotecs is a former member of the KGB, who appears on official photographs with Vladimir Putin.
Discontent of the government
The association, co -founded by Mr. Schönbohm and based in Berlin, advises companies, government agencies and political leaders on cybersecurity issues. On Monday, she described “absurd” the accusations that she would be under Russian influence.
According to the daily Handelsblatt business, Mr. Schönbohm is also the subject of “great dissatisfaction” within the government. The presentation of the BSI annual report by Mr. Schönbohm and the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, was canceled Thursday, said several media. Mr. Schönbohm is also the target of a wider satirical campaign on his alleged incompetence, launched by ZDF Magazin Royale, the caterer of” cyberClown “.
Moscow was repeatedly accused of cyberspionage against Berlin, even before the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Russia is notably made responsible for a large -scale computer hacking which in 2015 targeted the Bundestag computers and the then Chancellor’s services, Angela Merkel.