FRANKFURT, Dec 9 (AFP/APP): Three men go on trial in Germany on Tuesday, accused of tailing a former Ukrainian soldier on behalf of Russian intelligence services for a possible assassination plot.
The alleged ringleader, an Armenian partially identified as Vardges I., recruited another Ukrainian, Robert A., and a Russian, Arman S., prosecutors charge.
The trio allegedly tried to lure the former Ukrainian soldier to a Frankfurt cafe last year, but the alleged target became suspicious and contacted police.
“The spying operation presumably served to prepare further intelligence missions in Germany, possibly including the killing of the target,” prosecutors said.
German media have reported that the former Ukrainian soldier knew he was on a Russian “death list” after Moscow had accused him of war crimes, including the alleged execution of Russian soldiers.
When the Ukrainian soldier did not show up in the Frankfurt cafe, which was under police surveillance, the three men drove off but were later stopped and arrested by police commandos.
According to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, police found cash, several passports, both genuine and forged, and GPS tracking devices in their possession.
The three defendants have since been remanded in custody.
