French and German Arrested at Baikonur for Attempting to Photograph a Rocket

Two men, a French citizen, and a German citizen, were arrested at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for attempting to photograph a Russian rocket.

The two men were identified as Philippe Walter, a 58-year-old French citizen, and Christian Menzel, a 55-year-old German citizen. Walter is a photographer, and Menzel is a journalist.

The two men were arrested on September 22, 2023, while they were attempting to photograph a Soyuz rocket that was scheduled to launch the next day. The rocket was carrying a Russian cosmonaut and two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.

The two men were charged with espionage and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, said in a statement that the two men were "attempting to obtain classified information about the Russian space program."

The French and German governments have both protested the arrests, saying that the two men were not spies and were only trying to do their jobs.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is leased by Russia from Kazakhstan. The cosmodrome is used to launch Russian rockets and spacecraft, including those that carry astronauts to the International Space Station.

The incident is also likely to strain relations between Russia and the West. Russia has been accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian in recent years, and the arrests of the two men are likely to be seen as another example of this trend.

Conclusion

The arrest of the two men is a reminder that the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a sensitive military installation. It is also a reminder that Russia is becoming increasingly authoritarian and that relations between Russia and the West are strained.