Money laundering proceedings

Investigators search address of AfD MP

Petr Bystron

(Bild: AFP)

As part of the investigation into suspected money laundering and corruption against Petr Bystron, investigators searched the Berlin address of the German AfD member of parliament on Thursday.

The Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office only confirmed further searches in the course of money laundering and corruption proceedings "in order to secure further evidence". Further properties in Berlin are said to have been searched.

Proceedings for money laundering and bribery
In May, Bavarian investigators searched Bystrong's office in the Bundestag, among other places. The MP is suspected of having received money in connection with the pro-Russian portal "Voice of Europe" in return for acting in Russia's interests in the Bundestag. The Bundestag had lifted Bystron's immunity before the searches in May.

Bystron himself rejected the accusations at the time and described the proceedings as politically motivated. The presumption of innocence applies until the legal conclusion of the proceedings.

The 51-year-old has been criticized for weeks because of the allegations. The AfD party leadership called on him to no longer appear in the European election campaign. He himself then declared that he no longer wanted to appear in the election campaign for family reasons. A few days before the election, however, he once again took part in an AfD event in Nuremberg - and is now entering the European Parliament. Unlike lead candidate Maximilian Krah, Bystron will be part of the future AfD delegation.