Azerbaijan denied any connection to the arrest of Germany's former spy chief, August Henning, and called the reports "disinformation" and a "smear campaign" aimed at harming relations with Berlin.

Azerbaijan denied any connection to the arrest of Germany's former spy chief, August Henning, and called the reports "disinformation" and a "smear campaign" aimed at harming relations with Berlin.

Henning, who led the BND from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on suspicion of treason after allegedly acquiring classified documents and preparing an analysis for an unnamed foreign intelligence service.

Der Spiegel reported that the foreign contact is Azerbaijan.

Baku submitted an official protest to both the German Chancellor's Office and the Foreign Office.