German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has fired Arne Schönbohm, head of the country’s cybersecurity agency (BSI), following a controversy over his alleged contacts with Russia.
Schönbohm is to exit the Interior Ministry with immediate effect, a ministry spokesperson told local media in Berlin today. In addition, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Schönbohm. Previously, Spiegel had reported on Schönbohm’s involuntary departure.
Schönbohn founded an industry association in 2012 — the Cyber Security Council — and chaired it until he became head of the BSI in 2016. According to a ZDF report from October 7, the association was prone to Russian espionage and influence; rumors of Schönbohm’s ouster followed the broadcaster’s investigation.
However, throughout the past week, experts across Germany jumped to Schönbohm’s defense, pointing to his good record as BSI chief: “You have to acknowledge, he really pushed the BSI forward,” said IT security expert Manuel Atug.
Other experts even criticized Faeser for not standing by her cyber agency.
“The Ministry of the Interior must finally stand up for [the BSI] in order to limit the damage to its image. So far, nothing has come to light in this context where the [BSI] has acted in a problematic or wrong way,” said Sven Herpig, international cybersecurity policy director at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, on October 13.
Faeser has now decided to give the BSI a fresh start with a new face — but Schönbohm’s successor is not yet known.
