The Munich prosecutor’s office is conducting searches at premises associated with Alternative for Germany party member Petr Bystron.
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In addition to facilities in Bavaria and Mallorca, law enforcement also searched his office in the Bundestag. 11 prosecutors and about 70 police officers are involved in the case, Spiegel reports.
The case against Bystron is related to the activities of the pro-Russian media outlet Voice of Europe. The investigation into this propaganda resource was carried out by Czech intelligence services. They stated that the site was used not only to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda and disinformation.
The media company also secretly provided financial support to candidates “convenient” for Russia in the European Parliament elections. Among them was Bystron. It is believed that Viktor Medvedchuk, with whom Bystroń is well acquainted, is behind the Voice of Europe.
According to Der Spiegel, the Czech intelligence services have video and audio evidence that Bystron took such funds. But the politician himself denies all accusations.
Earlier, the Bundestag lifted the immunity of Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Bystron, who is of Czech origin. Subsequently, the Bavarian State Criminal Service (LKA) searched Bystron’s parliamentary office. According to Der Spiegel magazine, the search is related to an investigation led by the Munich prosecutor’s office.
Bystroń, who is number two on the list of AfD candidates for the European Parliament elections, is suspected of receiving bribes from a pro-Russian network. The MP has repeatedly denied this. The AfD called for a speedy clarification of the case.
According to media reports, all parliamentary factions agreed to the search in Bystron’s office, with the exception of the AfD, which abstained from voting, German media reported.
On the evening of May 16, the German Bundestag also stripped party member Bystron and the head of the AfD (Junge Alternative) youth organization Hannes Gnauk of immunity. According to German public television ARD, this is because of his disciplinary proceedings in the German army. It is believed that the reason was statements he made while serving in the German armed forces.
The 32-year-old politician served as a professional military man from 2014-2021. The German Office for the Protection of the Constitution considers the youth organization AfD a right-wing extremist movement from 2023.
The Munich prosecutor’s office has been dealing with Bystron’s case since the beginning of April, when it began the so-called preliminary investigation procedure. The DPA wrote on Thursday that Munich prosecutors had opened an investigation into MP Bystronya on initial suspicion of bribery and money laundering, and that police were now searching several properties.
According to the prosecutor’s office, searches were ordered in several locations in Bavaria, as well as in Mallorca, Spain. The speaker of the Prosecutor General’s Office said that we are also talking about searches of people who will be involved in the case as witnesses, and not as accused. The main goal is to protect documents and evidence media.
Bystron denies receiving transfers from pro-Russian propagandist
According to information provided by Deník N, the weekly Die Zeit and public broadcaster ARD, Bystron is recorded accepting 20 thousand euros from propagandist Artem Marchevsky, who, along with pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, was added to the Czech Republic’s national sanctions list in March.
Source: Racurs
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