German MP Employed Worker Linked to Russian Intelligence

Christian Hirte, a CDU Bundestag member, confirmed hiring a staffer later found to have ties to the Russian FSB.

Christian Hirte, a CDU Bundestag member, employed a Russian national in 2023 who was later revealed to have connections to the FSB.
The staffer had previously worked for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Moscow and left Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Hirte sought a security review of the employee upon hiring, and suspicions regarding FSB ties were raised after about a year.
German security authorities advised Hirte to discreetly terminate the employment, which he did in late 2024.
Hirte stated the staffer had no access to sensitive data, did not have a key to the office, and was primarily tasked with connecting Russian opposition figures.