"One of the main reasons for the resumption of counterintelligence activities which Germany ceased after the end of the Cold War was the growing activity of Russian special services, " the newspaper reported.

Open source

Germany resumed counterintelligence activities in connection with the increased activity of Russian special services. This is reported by Deutsche Welle with reference to Der Spiegel.



"One of the main reasons for the resumption of counterintelligence activities, which Germany ceased after the end of the Cold War, was" the growing activity of Russian special services," the newspaper reported.



The Federal Intelligence Service of Germany has set up a department for surveillance of foreign intelligence services, which at the moment has a small number of employees.



In the future, the staff is planning to be expanded, and the number of employees will exceed 50.



One of the main reasons for the creation of the new department was the "growing activity of Russian special services," in particular the case of poisoning of Sergei Skripal.



Another reason for the appearance of counterintelligence was the intensive activity of Russian and Chinese special services on the territory of Germany, which the security organs of Germany have been monitoring for a long time.



In addition to Russia and China, counterintelligence, according to the publication, also plans to concentrate on Iran and North Korea. The tasks of the new department include not only the suppression and deterrence of spy activities of other countries but also the collection of information about its purposes and methods.

As it was reported earlier, leaders of Great Britain, France, Germany, and USA claimed that poisoning of the former GRU officer Skripal and his daughter endanger their safety. The leaders stressed that they share Britain’s opinion on Russia’s involvement in this incident, and they called Moscow for providing the information about Novichok agent (a series of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union and Russiabetween 1971–1993, -ed.) to the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons).

UN Security Council had an emergency session on March 14, when Great Britain confirmed that Russia used Novichok agent to poison Skripal and his daughter. Britain also stated that Russia was highly likely to be involved in this incident, as the state did not give any explanation concerning this case to the British side within the terms set by London.

Besides, Russia was accused of illegal chemical weapon use, which is a violation of the UN Charter.

Russia denied all the accusations and demanded the British side to provide evidence and threatened to respond to London’s ultimatum.

Earlier, Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in Salisbury. They were taken to the hospital with symptoms of an unknown substance poisoning. Britain thinks that Andrey Lugovoy, deputy of Russia’s Duma, former GRU officer, who acted under the order of Russian authority, is involved in this incident.