Russian research assistant convicted of spying on European rockets in Germany
April 14, 2022, 8:50 am

Russian research assistant convicted of spying on European rockets in Germany

Parliament building in Berlin, Germany (File photo: Pixabay)

The Euronews reported, citing news agencies, a Russian research assistant has been given a one-year suspended sentence for spying in Germany.

The defendant - identified only as Ilnur N. - was found guilty of passing information about European rockets onto Russian intelligence.

He had worked as a research assistant for a science and technology professor at the University of Augsburg from 2018 until he was arrested in June last year.

Prosecutors said the defendant met regularly with a handler for the Russian foreign intelligence service (SVR) and passed on information about aerospace research products, particularly the various development stages of Europe's Ariane space launcher.

The Russian defendant - identified only as Ilnur N. - was found guilty of passing information about European rockets onto Russian intelligence (File photo: Pixabay)

He allegedly received a total of €2,500 euros in cash, the court in Munich state heard.

When his trial opened in February, the 30-year-old told the court he was not an agent and claimed he had given publicly accessible information to an employee of the Russian consulate in Munich.

British worker at UK embassy in Berlin charged with Russian spying offenses

The defendant also argued that he did not know about the consulate’s links to Russian intelligence.

But the court handed Ilnur N. a one-year suspended sentence and also fined him €500 for "acting as a secret agent."

Judges noted that the information he had passed on had "no visible damage to the Federal Republic of Germany and the research institutes established there".

Russia confirms 12-year prison sentence for alleged Ukrainian spy

The trial comes against a backdrop of high tension between Russia and the West following the invasion of Ukraine.

Source: euronews

Michigan police release footage of officer shooting Black man during traffic stop WHO chief: The world doesn't respond to crises affecting human race the same way

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”