August Hanning, former head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), is being investigated over possible links to Azerbaijani intelligence.
According to information obtained by Der Spiegel, investigators are examining evidence suggesting that the former BND chief, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage, may have been in contact with an employee of Azerbaijan’s intelligence service.
According to the publication, the Federal Prosecutor General’s Office suspects 80-year-old Hanning of obtaining classified BND documents through his former chief of staff, Manfred D.
According to investigators, Hanning used these documents to prepare an analysis intended for an employee of a foreign intelligence service.
The investigation is examining whether the information or the analysis was actually passed on to a foreign party.
Der Spiegel also notes that Hanning has previous ties to Azerbaijan. The former BND chief was a member of the board of the German-Azerbaijani Forum.
Hanning was arrested on Tuesday. He is being investigated on suspicion of espionage constituting treason, attempted espionage, and other espionage-related offences.
Law enforcement authorities also arrested his former chief of staff, Manfred D.
According to the current theory of the investigation, Manfred D. obtained thousands of documents from the BND for Hanning in exchange for payment until 2022, including classified material.
Prosecutors say D. is suspected of passing around 2,000 documents to Hanning over several years.
The documents reportedly included classified material intended for internal BND use only, as well as high-level intelligence briefings submitted to the German Chancellery.
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, some of the material concerned Iran’s nuclear programme and the Russian military.
The publication also reports that the documents included highly sensitive information obtained from foreign intelligence agencies with which Germany cooperates.
According to information obtained by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the investigation is currently not believed to be linked to Russia.
According to Bild, prosecutors allege that Hanning received classified information from a former BND employee and planned to use the information as part of his consulting activities.
The publication reports that investigators are also examining whether Hanning may have subsequently used the material he obtained in analyses prepared for third parties.
Hanning’s former chief of staff, Manfred D., reportedly worked in the office of the BND leadership until March 2026.
This position may have given him access to some of Germany’s most current and sensitive intelligence information.
According to the prosecution’s theory, D. held this position for a significant part of the period during which he allegedly removed documents from the BND without authorization.
Hanning is expected to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice.
Manfred D. is also expected to appear before a judge in the same manner.
There are also concerns within German security circles about the possible consequences of the case.
Roderich Kiesewetter, a conservative security expert and member of parliament, told Handelsblatt that the arrest of a former BND chief in such a case could damage Germany’s relations with partner intelligence services. According to him, espionage cases of this kind can have serious consequences, particularly in terms of mutual trust.
Martin Jaeger, the current president of the BND, said that a comprehensive internal investigation had been launched as soon as the suspicions came to light.
“There can be no compromise when it comes to internal security,” he said.
According to Der Spiegel, the investigation is separately examining Hanning’s possible contact with an employee of Azerbaijan’s intelligence service and whether he prepared analyses based on classified information for that person.
The Federal Prosecutor General’s Office declined to comment on the information reported by the media.
The Azerbaijani side has also issued a statement on the matter. Azerbaijan’s Media and Broadcasting Council described the mention of Azerbaijan in the investigation involving the former head of German intelligence as disinformation.
