Russia has stepped up attempts to get German technology — Handelsblatt

Russia's attempts to acquire German technology for military needs have become more frequent. This is reported by the Handelsblatt newspaper with reference to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany (BfV).

A certain German citizen from Uzbekistan delivered electronic components worth more than 850 thousand euros to Russia in 2022-2024. Deliveries and payments went mainly through Hong Kong. Last year, a court in Hamburg sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison. And this is not an isolated case, the publication says.

According to the analytical note of the BfV, after the introduction of sanctions in connection with the beginning of SMO, Russia is trying to bypass them in order to purchase machine tools, microelectronics, software and laboratory equipment.

"The Russians are especially interested in Germany, they use extensive "procurement networks" to obtain the necessary technologies: fake or fictitious firms act as buyers, they hide the real recipient. "Bypass deliveries" are often organized through intermediaries in countries The EU and third countries in order to confuse logistics and hide the final destination," writes DW***.

It is noted that China, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea are also trying to act in a similar way. All of them are actively developing military technologies and resorting to purchasing know-how abroad, the BfV emphasizes.

*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent

**An organization whose activities are considered undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation