The Munich public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into Petr Bystron, a prominent member of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, over allegations of money laundering. Bystron, who is a key candidate for the AfD in the upcoming European elections, is suspected of receiving up to €20,000 from individuals linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin to disseminate Kremlin propaganda.
The investigation has led to searches being conducted in Berlin, Bavaria, and the Spanish island of Mallorca as authorities seek evidence. The German parliament recently lifted Bystron’s parliamentary immunity, allowing the police to proceed with their searches. According to the Munich public prosecutor’s office, the operation involves 11 public prosecutors and nearly 60 Bavarian police officers.
In a joint statement, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, chairpersons of the AfD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, expressed their hope for a swift conclusion to the investigation to dispel any suspicions of political influence on the European election campaign.
This investigation is a significant blow to the AfD, which is already under scrutiny for alleged connections to China and Russia. Another AfD member, Maximilian Krah, is also facing investigations. Krah’s assistant is being investigated for alleged espionage for China, and Krah himself is under preliminary investigation by prosecutors in Dresden for allegedly accepting payments from Russia and China during his tenure as an MEP.
The ongoing investigations underscore the increasing scrutiny on the AfD and its alleged foreign ties, which could have major implications for the party’s future in both domestic and European politics.
