German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser canceled the joint appearance with BSI President Schönbohm. He is accused of contacts with an association with connections to the Russian secret service.
Things are getting tight for the chairman of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) is also stepping back from Arne Schönbohm. Faeser and Schönbohm’s joint appearance to present the BSI’s annual report ahead of the federal press conference, which had been planned for many weeks, was canceled on Monday morning.
According to dpa information, Faeser is upset that the chairman of the Cyber Defense Office still has contacts with the controversial association “Cyber Security Council Germany”, which he himself co-founded and directed ten years ago, but which has recently changed. himself to the country because of connections with Russian secret services caught in the crossfire of criticism. Several media outlets reported on Sunday that the SPD politician wanted to relieve Schönbohm of his post.
Schönbohm’s connection to the controversial club had already been discussed by Jan Böhmermann on the program “ZDF Magazin Royale”. A spokesperson said the Interior Ministry is investigating and examining the matter closely. “All options are being looked at – and how the current situation should be handled.”
Speech at controversial club
According to circles, Schönbohm’s visit to the club’s anniversary a few weeks ago was the final straw. However, according to a report by the portal “Business Insider”, the Federal Ministry of the Interior was informed about Schönbohm’s speech at the association. So Faeser’s Secretary of State Markus Richter approved the lecture at Schönbohm’s request on August 24.
Germany’s Cyber Security Council has dismissed the suspicion that the organization should maintain close contacts with the Russian secret service. These allegations are “absurd,” President Hans-Wilhelm Dünn said on Monday. The association, founded in 2012, advises companies, politicians and authorities on cybersecurity and declares itself politically neutral.
Protelion: business connections to Russia
Meanwhile, Berlin-based cybersecurity company Protelion, which is a member of the “CyberSecurity Council Germany eV”, is attracting more and more attention. The company operated under the name Infotecs GmbH until the end of March. This is a subsidiary of Russian cybersecurity firm OAOInfotecs, which, according to research network Policy Network Analytics, was founded by a former employee of the Russian KGB intelligence service, who received a Medal of Honor from Russian President Vladimir Putin. for your work.
Previously, Protelion was also a member of the Federal Association for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (BSKI). The association said on Monday that it had decided to suspend membership of Protelion for the time being. The association referred to the report of the “ZDF Magazin Royale”. “We are suspending membership until the allegations against Protelion are fully clarified,” said BSKI President Holger Berens. “The allegations are outrageous and if confirmed, we will have to take further action.”
Protelion’s connections with Russia had already been researched in specialized publications months before Böhmermann’s report. In January, “Forensic News” reported reservations about Infotecs in the US, that is, at a time when Protelion still operated under the name Infotecs in Germany. After the company was renamed, the specialist portal “Intelligence Online” pointed out the problematic cross-connections with Russia.
(APA/dpa/Portal)