France Arrests and Investigates Military Officer on 'Russian Spy Allegations'

Florence Parly, French Minister of Defense [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A French military officer was arrested by intelligence authorities on charges of passing military secrets to Russia, AFP reported on the 30th (local time).

According to the report, the French domestic intelligence agency (DGSI) recently detained and is investigating a French military officer stationed at a NATO base in Italy on suspicion of espionage activities. The officer is known to have handed over highly sensitive military secrets to the Russian side.

The officer, at the rank of lieutenant colonel, speaks Russian and was spotted by intelligence authorities together with a man identified as a Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) agent in Italy. The officer was arrested by DGSI agents just before departing for Italy after taking leave in his home country and is currently detained at an undisclosed location in Paris.

Florence Parly, the French Minister of Defense, stated, "What I can confirm is that the military officer is undergoing legal procedures related to a security breach," but did not disclose specific details. She added, "All necessary protective measures have been taken."

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