- German safety authorities confirmed that K. had been in contact with Russian peculiar services, which Hirte initially ignored
- Konstantin K. was previously associated with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and had contacts with Russian opponents opposing Putin
- The CDU politician has long been active in relations with Russia, and after the invasion of Ukraine continued traveling to Moscow and activities related to this country
- For more information, visit the Onetu homepage
"CDU policy office Christian Hirte is located on the sixth level of Paul Loebe Haus building" and recalls another Bundestag offices. “After Russia's attack on Ukraine, a Russian man starts working here: Konstantin K.,” writes “FAZ”.
According to Hirty, the contract began in March 2023 “K. is to keep contact with Russian opponents who argue Putin abroad. K. is considered to be well placed in these circles and manages to bring prominent opponents of Putin into the Bundestag,” says the article.
Russian with access to the Bundestag
"There is only 1 flaw. A Russian opposition expert cooperates with Russian peculiar Services. respective sources that want to stay anonymous have suspected this for any time,” says “FAZ”. The diary received confirmation from the German safety authorities that "K. is in contact with the FSB, a powerful KGB successor to Putin's empire".
"The Russian authorities and their peculiar services were thus given the chance to get first-hand information about the contacts of the German parliament, especially the then opposition of the CDU/CSU, with Russia and Putin's opponents," he stresses.
"Thanks to a licence to the Bundestag K. he had access to the German parliament all the time until the end of 2024. Hirte explains, however, that K. was never active in the interior organisation of the office. “He did not have a key to the office, digital access or access to the interior data of the office or the Bundestag”.
Hirte is an experienced and influential associate of parliament, as recalled in the article. He has served in the Bundestag for 16 years, served as Parliamentary Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economy under the direction of Peter Altmaier, Commissioner of the national Government for east Europe, and for 2 years president of the CDU in Thuringia. Hirte has long shown keen interest in Russia, he advocated keeping in contact with Russia, even erstwhile relations became increasingly difficult.
Hirte was curious in Russia
"Hirte travelled to Russia, participated in conferences and thus met K. Russian worked in the Moscow office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and was a KAS scholarship holder," the portal “FAZ” informs.
Shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 K. contacted Hirte and told him that he had rushed distant from Russia. They set up a gathering in Berlin. During the conversation, K. said to the CDU how hard his situation is now. "I got the impression that he was clearly opposed to Putin's regime," Hirte said. He offered a friend a occupation in his office in the Bundestag. At the same time, according to Hirty, he submitted his CV to the German safety agency to find out if there was anything against the Russian. “Because I knew it was connected to the strategy in Russia,” he explained.
In consequence to an enquiry to the safety authorities, Hirte received information that K. may have contacts with Russian peculiar services. "At this time, in the second half of 2023, it was said that this does not necessarily mean that he is himself problematic," writes “FAZ”. The following year, Hirte found out the suspicions were confirmed.
However, he was asked not to resolve his relation with the Russian immediately, so that K. would not get suspicious. In late summertime or early autumn 2024. Hirte received a advice to quietly terminate his contract with the Russian. He follows this and does not talk to his worker about suspicions. It informs the Russian that the employment contract expires at the end of 2024. Since then, K has no longer worked in the Bundestag.
As noted in the context of this case, “Bild”, Hirte besides “traveled regularly to Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014”. He is 1 of a full group of CDU/CSU politicians, including active abroad policy experts, "whose contacts with Russia are suspiciously watched by Western intelligence service friends".
