The Berlin police did not say exactly which newspaper it was and which president it was. The German Press Agency, for example, reported on Wednesday that the Berlin police were preparing for a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-May. The newspaper “BZ” had first reported on the planned visit.
The Berlin police have never officially given any information that would have endangered the state visit. “Only in response to inquiries based on previous media reports, the press office of the Berlin police confirmed the forthcoming operation. Information on operational planning, protective measures or the course of the visit was not and will not be given – as is usual in such cases.”
Chief of Police Dr. Barbara Slowik said: “I find it unbearable that – if you believe the article in the newspaper – a single employee is damaging the reputation of the Berlin police in such a shameful way nationally and internationally. I can only assume that that person is aware of the consequences was not aware of his actions. The fact that headlines in a newspaper are given higher priority than the reliability of the Berlin police and the trust placed in us is in no way tolerable. That is why I have entrusted the State Criminal Police Office with the investigation into the betrayal of secrets.”
The Chancellery initially did not confirm Zelensky’s visit to Berlin. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said about the reports on request that the Chancellor’s appointments were only announced on Friday of the previous week. Selenskyj is to receive the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen on May 14th. The organizers had already announced that they were preparing for Zelenskyj’s personal participation, but that this was still open.