Georg Maier (SPD), the Interior Minister of the German state of Thuringia, has warned of potential espionage by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on behalf of Russia. As first reported by the German publication Handelsblatt, Maier alleged that the AfD is using parliamentary questioning to gather sensitive information on Germany’s critical infrastructure, and stated he sees indications the party could be spying for Russia.
Maier told Handelsblatt: “For some time now, we have been observing with increasing concern that the AfD is abusing the parliamentary right to ask questions to specifically explore our critical infrastructure.”
The minister cited that in Thuringia alone, 47 such inquiries had been made in the past twelve months, noting a “rising intensity and level of detail.” These inquiries reportedly concern areas such as transport, water, digital, and energy infrastructure, as well as police IT and equipment, particularly in drone detection and defense, civil protection, and the activities of the German military (Bundeswehr).
“It almost gives the impression that the AfD is working through a job list for the Kremlin with its inquiries,” Maier asserted.
This assessment is reportedly shared by key figures on the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee. Marc Henrichmann (CDU), the committee’s chairman, told Handelsblatt that Russia is “naturally asserting its obvious influence in parliament, especially in the AfD, to spy and access sensitive information.” Konstantin von Notz (Greens), the vice-chairman, similarly argued that the AfD “is consciously making itself a mouthpiece for the dictators of this world.”
The warnings come amid a backdrop of known Russia connections, including a planned trip to Moscow by AfD deputy parliamentary group leader Markus Frohnmaier and ongoing investigations into Petr Bystron, now an EU MP, for alleged money laundering and bribery in connection with a pro-Russian disinformation campaign.
AfD Rejects Allegations as “Insane Suspicions”
The AfD has vehemently rejected the spying accusations. Bernd Baumann, the first parliamentary managing director of the AfD’s federal parliamentary group, dismissed them as “insane suspicions.” He told Handelsblatt the party’s inquiries are necessary to uncover shortcomings in the country’s infrastructure and that scrutinizing the government is the duty of the opposition.
But while the AfD rejected the allegations, the Thuringian Interior Minister went further, insisting that the AfD constitutes a “security risk for Germany” and that its “connections to authoritarian systems” must be given greater emphasis in discussions about a potential party ban.
While all parliamentary factions routinely use the right to question the government on various topics, the difference, according to Maier, lies in the nature and depth of the AfD’s questions, which he interprets as potentially security-endangering. For instance, AfD inquiries have requested specific details on Bundeswehr drone types and measures for drone defense, as well as the frequency of “critical grid situations” in energy supply since 2010.
Maier is pushing for consequences regarding the AfD’s proximity to Russia and suggested that this “treasonous aspect” should be emphasized in discussions about a potential party ban process. Several federal parliamentarians from other parties are reportedly working toward a cross-party motion to explore an AfD ban, which would ultimately be decided by the Federal Constitutional Court.