Germany fires cyber security chief over ties to Russia Germany's cyber security chief has been sacked after allegations he got too close...

Germany fires cyber security chief over ties to Russia

Germany's cyber security chief has been sacked after allegations he got too close to Russia through the party he helped set up. Arne Schönbohm had headed the Federal Cyber ​​Security Authority (BSI) - charged with protecting government communications - since 2016.

German media have accused him of having ties to people involved in Russian intelligence services. The Ministry of Interior is investigating the allegations made against him.

But it proved that he was immediately fired. Mr Schönbohm had come under scrutiny after his possible links to the Russian company through a previous role were highlighted by Jan Böhmermann, the host of one of Germany's most popular late-night TV shows. Before leading BSI, Mr Schönbohm had helped establish and run the Cyber ​​Security Council Germany, a private association that advises businesses and policy makers on cyber security issues.

He is said to have maintained a close relationship with the party and attended their 10th anniversary celebrations in September. One of the party's members was a cyber security company called Protelion, which was a subsidiary of a Russian company reportedly founded by a former KGB member respected by President Vladimir Putin. Protelion was expelled from the party late last week, and Germany's Cyber ​​Security Council says allegations of links to Russian espionage are false.

A spokeswoman for the Interior Minister Nancy Faeser appeared to confirm that Mr Schönbohm's dismissal came about as a result of recent reports, saying: "The background to this is not just allegations that have been exposed and discussed widely in the media."

The spokesman added: "The necessary public trust in the neutrality and impartiality of his leadership as president of Germany's most important cyber security agency has been damaged." But they insisted that the security chief "will be informed if he is innocent" while investigations into the allegations are carried out.