Germany Fires Cybersecurity Chief 'Over Russia Ties'

Germany's cybersecurity chief has been fired after allegations of being excessively close to Russia through an association he helped set up. The BBC reports: Arne Schonbohm had led the Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI) -- charged with protecting government communications -- since 2016. German media have accused him of having had links with people involved with Russian intelligence services. The interior ministry is investigating allegations made against him. But it confirmed he had been fired with immediate effect.

Mr Schonbohm had come under scrutiny after his potential links to a Russian company through a previous role were highlighted by Jan Bohmermann, the host of one of Germany's most popular late-night TV shows. Before leading the BSI, Mr Schonbohm had helped set up and run the Cyber Security Council Germany, a private association which advises business and policymakers on cybersecurity issues. He is said to have maintained close ties to the association and attended their 10th anniversary celebrations in September. One of the association's members was a cybersecurity company called Protelion, which was a subsidiary of a Russian firm reportedly established by a former member of the KGB honored by President Vladimir Putin. Protelion was ejected from the association last weekend, and Cyber Security Council Germany says the allegations of links to Russian intelligence are untrue.

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[couchslug]

Vatnik shill detected.

Re: propaganda and political pressure in action

[spinitch]

With biz casual pervasive, ditch ties. Old British fashion. What does a Russian tie look like? Falling out of windows design?

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[youngone]

Germany might actually decide that enough is enough otherwise.

And then what?

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[Opportunist]

March across Poland onto Moscow again. Barbarossa 2, electric boogaloo.

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[youngone]

Sounds like fun.

I'm in.
We should start next week then, we could be there by Christmas.

Lots of moles in the German government.

[Eunomion]

Its behavior has been often inexplicable and suspicious throughout the Ukraine saga, going back even to the 2014 invasion. People in key positions often sided with Russian interests with no apparent reason behind it, and have dragged their feet when delivering on promises to Ukraine they already made.

Re:Lots of moles in the German government.

[Tom]

Not inexplicable at all.

One, Germany was invaded and successfully conquered by Russia during WW2. Yes, I know the Hollywood movies celebrate D-Day et al, but the Eastern Front decided the war, not the western. Also, Germans were brutal in Russia, uncomparable to France or other western regions they temporarily controlled. Likewise, the Red Army was brutal when the tide turned - millions of Germans fled before it towards the west, while there was no such movement from the western Allies.

Getting to terms again with Russia after slaughtering millions of its civilians was a decade-long process. Western Germany normalizing diplomatic relations to the USSR was a major accomplishment, not something you throw away easily, so German politicians were concerned about Crimea, but considered it not much different from the US invasions into Iraq or Vietnam or whatever other of a dozen wars you want to pick - not a reason to fundamentally endanger your relations.

Second, Germany is an industrial powerhouse and after the end of the Cold War set up trade deals for cheap energy and raw materials with Russia. Unlike the USA, Germany doesn't have much natural resources itself. Your history teacher can explain you the relation between that and the two World Wars. Getting these resources peacefully through trade was obviously the better solution for everyone, and is massively important to the German industry. There is much criticism in Germany today about the sanctions, and open discussions about how much of the industry will no longer be there next year. Many factories have already reduced production.

Third, Russians are a major ethnic minority in Germany. In fact, Russian is the #1 mother tongue after German in the country. While a good percentage of these Russians left Russia for good reasons and isn't friends with Putin, and another good percentage of these native russian speakers are Ukrainians (where Russian is the first language of a large part of the population), it's a factor to consider.

Fourth, unlike Americans, Germans have long stepped out of the "evil russian communist" narrative. There have been student and academic exchange programs, intense trade and tourism, cultural exchange and many other programs to bring the people closer together. Germany was a strong force in these efforts to integrate Russia into the West after the end of the Cold War.

So far from "no apparent reason", there are many reasons why Germany wouldn't jump on the bandwaggon of "evil russians" at the first chance, but try to find a balance between various interests. Top German politicians never openly supported Russia in the Ukraine topic, but they also rarely went full black-and-white in blaming it. Above are some reasons why.

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[dunkelfalke]

and after the end of the Cold War set up trade deals for cheap energy and raw materials with Russia

Way earlier than that. The first gas delivery contract with the soviets was signed in 1972.

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[Tom]

I didn't know about that, thanks for pointing it out.

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[Tom]

Yes. I'm well aware of the US doctrine to keep Germany and Russia seperated and if possible hostile to each other. Congratulations, thanks to the US-think-tank indoctrinated Green Party leaders, you guys finally go there.

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[Tom]

Wouldn't put it past the US to be involved in that (though they'd send a fall guy in for the dirty work, like Poland) - but we'll never find out. If there's evidence, it'll be sealed for 99 years.

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[Tom]

I was answering to someone else. I know reading skills are considered non-essential these days, but at least give it your best shot, ok?

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[Tom]

You think people need guidance in thinking? And specifically yours? Yeah, right...

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[Eunomion]

Russia annexing a neighbor's internationally-recognized territory using identical language to the German rationale for annexing the Sudetenland had no resemblance in geopolitical terms to the commodity-snatching heist in Iraq. No German would ever see the two as related phenomena, nor would any German not on a Russian payroll have shrugged off Putin's nakedly fascist land-grabbing ideology and actions.

I'm not sure why you're bringing up the "evil Russian communist narrative," when this is literally abou

incomplete

[Tom]

Mr Schonbohm had come under scrutiny

That is incomplete at best. He was already much criticized before, just for other reasons. He still had political support, which kept him in office, and with the current situation, political support and ties to Russia (alleged or real) aren't friends anymore.

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[lennier1]

Even ignoring the Russia ties, there's a reason that dipshit learned himself the nickname Cyber Clown.

Investigate US cyber companies links with Mossad

[terrorubic]

While you're about it, investigate US cyber companies links with Mossad.