Because of possible dubious funds
The public prosecutor’s office initiates preliminary investigations against Krah
April 24, 2024, 6:49 p.m
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Preliminary investigations are being conducted against the AfD’s top candidate for the European elections in Krah. This concerns possible payments from pro-Russian and Chinese sources.
The Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated two preliminary investigations against the AfD’s top candidate for this year’s European elections, Maximilian Krah. This is reported by MDR Aktuell, citing an authority spokesman.
One of the proceedings is about possible payments from pro-Russian sources to the right-wing politician, while the other is about money from China. According to the public prosecutor’s office in the Saxon state capital, the purpose of the proceedings is to examine whether there is an initial suspicion of bribery of members of parliament. If this were the case, a formal investigation could then be initiated.
Krah told MDR Aktuell that he had not yet been informed about the move and denied any wrongdoing. During a trip to the USA in 2020, the AfD politician was questioned by the federal police there about connections to pro-Russian sources and possible payments.
Interviewed by the FBI
The US investigators are said to have shown Krah, among other things, a chat message in which a pro-Russian activist assured his acquaintance Krah that the problem with “compensations” for Krah’s “technical expenses” had been solved. From May onwards “it will be as it was before February”.
Krah said that he had never hidden his contacts with the pro-Russian activist and that they could be found, among other things, on his Instagram account. “The allegations are absurd and fabricated.” The “Spiegel” quoted Krah as saying that he never received any money from the activist, “no payments, benefits or other compensation.”
A Krah employee was also arrested on Monday and is accused of spying for China in Germany. Specifically, he is accused of passing on information about negotiations in the EU Parliament and spying on Chinese opposition members in Germany.