Gerhard Schindler

The German government confirmed on April 27 that Gerhard Schindler, the head of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) foreign intelligence agency, would leave his post two years early but provided no reason for the surprise change. 

In spite the sanctions, Russia's President Vladimir Putin continues expanding his sphere of influence, concludes an analysis of the German intelligence, published in German media.

According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, quoted by Deutsche Welle, the foreign policy committee in the Bundestag discussed Bulgaria and the Russian interests in the beginning of July.