The Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation against German AfD politician Maximilian Krah on suspicion of bribery in connection with Chinese and Russian payments. However, there is no connection with the proceedings against Krah’s employee Jian G. for alleged espionage for China. Krah announced on Wednesday that he wants to remain his party’s top candidate for the European elections.
Due to media reports against the MEP, a preliminary investigation was launched on April 18, 2024 in connection with alleged Russian payments for his work as a member of parliament, a spokesperson in Dresden said on request on Wednesday. “In addition, the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting a second preliminary investigation against the Member of the European Parliament, Dr. Maximilian Krah in connection with alleged Chinese payments for his work as a member of parliament,” he added. The spokesperson emphasized that the preliminary investigation currently only serves to determine whether there is an initial suspicion of criminal behavior in which MPs have been bribed.
Krah remains the AfD’s top candidate
Meanwhile, the AfD politician remains his party’s top candidate for the European elections, despite alleged Chinese espionage of his employee. He had agreed with the party leadership that he would not be present at the start of the election campaign in Donaueschingen on Saturday, “but I am and will remain the top candidate,” Krah said in Berlin on Wednesday. He will immediately dismiss the employee in question from his EU parliamentary office in custody.
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (ÖVP), commented on the espionage allegations during a press conference in Strasbourg on Wednesday. “These scandals and this behavior” took place among right-wing parties and groups “that don’t want this EU,” Karas said.
“Loudest vassal in China”
German Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer accuses Krah of making himself a vassal of China. Krah was the “loudest vassal in China” from the right-wing camp in the European Parliament during the legislature, Bütikofer said on Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday. He also does not rule out knowledge of his employee’s possible espionage for China: “I actually cannot imagine that Krah was not aware of what his employee was doing.” Bütikofer says that the Chinese authorities have not hesitated to penetrate the core of European democracy to promote their own hegemonic interests.
As the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday, Jian G., who was arrested on Monday, was brought before the investigating judge on Tuesday evening. He ordered pre-trial detention. Krah’s employee is accused of being an agent for a Chinese secret service. The EU Parliament in Brussels had already suspended the man with immediate effect on Tuesday. The Chinese government in Beijing rejected the accusations.
Source: Krone
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