In London, an ex-embassy guard was given a term for espionage in favor of Russia

The former guard of the British embassy in Berlin was sentenced by a court in London to 13 years and 2 months in prison – in the case of the transfer of highly classified information to the Russian leadership.

According to the findings of the investigation announced in court, 58-year-old David Ballantine Smith collected confidential information for more than three years. As noted, it is a matter of secret government communications with Boris Johnson, who held the post of Prime Minister at the time, and other confidential documents.

Judge Mark Wall said at the trial that the charges on which Smith was convicted were related to the period 2020-2021, but his “subversive activity” began two years before that.

The defendant himself admitted to sending two letters containing sensitive information to persons in the Russian embassy in Berlin. However, according to Judge Wall, he is confident that David Ballantyne Smith at some point in 2020 established regular contact with the Russian diplomatic mission. “The Russians paid you for your betrayal,” said the judge, addressing the accused.

As Reuters notes, in November, Smith pleaded guilty to eight counts of violating domestic law, including a charge related to the transfer of data to the Russian military attache in Berlin, Major General Sergei Chukhrov, in November 2020.

Earlier this week, Smith said in court that he was ashamed of what he had done and that he now hated himself. In his testimony, he mentioned a dispute with colleagues and, at the same time, depression, from the moment of which he began to collect confidential information. Smith told about the case when he photographed the documents allegedly “after seven pints of beer.” His words were reduced to the fact that he did not want to intentionally cause any harm.

The reaction of the Russian side to the outcome of the court proceedings is not reported.

The Russian service of the BBC writes that David Smith was arrested in August 2021 during a joint operation by the British and German special services. The arrest was initiated by the British MI-5 counter-intelligence agency. In April, the suspect was extradited to Great Britain.

“BBC” gives the details of the case from the Sky News channel, which reported that in conversations with different people, Smith repeatedly said that he hated Great Britain and Germany, and also expressed irritation at the fact that rainbow flags – a symbol LGBT communities.