PROSECUTORS dropped their treason investigation of two journalists yesterday, defusing a free-speech crisis at the heart of the German government.

Markus Beckedahl and Andre Meister, who had reported on secret plans to expand online surveillance in Germany, were notified via website Netzpolitik.org in July by its founder that they were under investigation, prompting widespread criticism from free-speech advocates.

The website specialises in covering online privacy and digital culture.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas had questioned the decision to open a treason probe.

He sacked chief federal prosecutor Harald Range last week after the two clashed over public allegations by Mr Range of political interference, which the minister denied.

The federal prosecutor’s office said yesterday that it was closing the case because it believed the leaked documents on which the website reports were based were not a “state secret” and that other conditions for treason charges had also not been met.