A Professor at Copenhagen University has been arrested and charged with procuring Russian spies in Denmark and leaking confidential information
49-year-old Timo Kivimäki allegedly supplied the Russian embassy with the names of prospective spies amongst the student faculty at the university and also provided sensitive information about people connected to the Centre for Military Studies. He was arrested by Danish Intelligence (PET) who had reportedly monitored the professor's meetings with Russian agents for years, at 'shady' meeting places where he was handed 'small envelopes' containing thousands of kroner.
Finnish-born Mr Kivimäki, who has worked at the Department of Political Science since since 1999, has denied all charges but admitted to meeting employees of the Russian Embassy. "Those that I met were, as I perceive it, normal diplomats from the embassy so I don't feel it can be classified as espionage," he said.
According to Kivimäki he carried out analysis work and formulated scientific arguments on security policy, for a fee, for both the Russians and for other diplomats and governments including reports on Iraq, Iran and the territorial discussion about the Arctic.
The University Post writes that professor Kivimäki was already suspended one year ago, in accordance with normal procedure for any staff member charged in a criminal case.
"We were briefed by the police early on," said Dean of Social Sciences Troels Østergaard Sørensen "Now the case has to go through Copenhagen District Court so I'm unable to comment before there's a court ruling.".