Former German intelligence chief August Hanning may have passed secret documents to Azerbaijan, Der Spiegel reports

Former German intelligence chief August Hanning may have provided classified documents to an Azerbaijani agent, according to an investigation by Der Spiegel. Hanning, who was arrested on October 6 on suspicion of espionage and divulging state secrets, allegedly created an analysis report for Azerbaijani intelligence. His former office head, Manfred D., was also detained in the investigation.

The former BND leader allegedly obtained 2,000 classified documents unlawfully, potentially sharing them with a foreign agent through their communication. While it remains unclear if the documents reached their intended recipient, German authorities have not officially confirmed Hanning's suspected affiliation with Baku. Hanning's connection to Azerbaijan is confirmed through his membership on the board of the German-Azerbaijani Forum.

He served as head of the BND from December 1998 to November 2005, having prepared reports on foreign partner agencies, Iran’s nuclear program, and Russian military matters. He also made at least seven trips to Russia between 2015 and 2019, often flying in and out of Moscow within a day. The investigation into Hanning's activities has been ongoing for several months, with his home searched in September 2025 due to his involvement in the abduction case of Christina Block's children.