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German Couple Convicted Of Spying For Russia

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Germans Sentenced In Russia Spy Case
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A court in the German city of Stuttgart has convicted a married couple on charges of spying for Russia.

On July 2, the court sentenced the husband and wife, known by the names Andreas and Heidrun Anschlag, to 6 1/2 and 5 1/2 years in prison.

They were fined 500,000 euros ($652,000).

The couple, who claimed to be Austrians of South American descent, had lived in Germany since the late 1980s, allegedly using fake papers.

They were found guilty of transmitting secret EU and NATO-related materials to Russia's foreign intelligence service (SVR).

They reportedly sent the information via the Internet, through satellite communications, or by planting it in hiding places known as "dead drops."

They were arrested in October 2011 and went on trial in January this year.

Based on reporting by dpa and ITAR-TASS

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