Russian breakthrough in the French army: a prominent NATO officer in Italy arrested

PARIS – History of spies between France and Russia, passing through Italy. A French army officer was arrested and investigated for treason against Russia. He is suspected of providing top-secret documents to Moscow’s secret services. The Minister of Defense, Florence Parlycommented on the news announced by the issuer Europe 1. “I can confirm – said the minister – that a senior official is in legal proceedings for an attack on security.”

The case is particularly embarrassing for Paris, since the officer, a lieutenant colonel, was stationed in NATO, at a military base in Italy that, according to various sources, would be Naples, where many French soldiers are stationed. “It is France that has taken the initiative in this judicial procedure,” Parly stressed, adding that his ministry has referred the matter to a prosecutor under article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires any public authority to report a crime. or infringement of those who are aware of the judicial system.

The officer, whose identity is not yet known, was arrested in France in late August as he was about to return to Italy. The operation was carried out by the DGSI (Direction générale de la Sécurité intérieure), the counterintelligence agency. The man is now locked up in the Parisian prison of La Santé. “We have taken all the necessary safeguards,” Parly added, suspecting a Russian breach in the security of the French army. “And now the judicial system must be able to do its job in accordance with the secrecy of the French army.” ‘investigation’, said the minister who arrived in Rome in July to meet her colleague Lorenza Guerini.

A few weeks ago another case of double agents for China had been dealt with within the DGSE (external intelligence). Two former spies, now retired, had been sentenced for exchanging information with the enemy and high treason to twelve and eight years in prison.