Latest news with #MaximilianKrah
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
German spy trial of far-right MP's former aide begins
The former assistant to a leading member of Germany's far-right populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has gone on trial in Dresden, accused of spying for China. The German Chinese dual national, identified only as Jian G - in line with German privacy rules - was an assistant to AfD politician Maximilian G has been accused of working for a Chinese intelligence service since 2002, and charged by Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor allegedly gathered documents and files from the European Parliament while working for Krah, a former EU lawmaker, who now represents the AfD in Germany's Parliament, the Bundestag. Jian G denies all the charges against him. Prosecutors say he worked for the AfD at the European Parliament from 2019 until 2024, and accused Jian G of using the position to gather information for China on EU Parliament consultations and decisions, including what they described as some "particularly sensitive information."He is also charged with spying on Chinese dissidents and opposition figures in Germany, and of gathering personal information about leading figures in the AfD. The high-profile case has fuelled concern about Europe being a target for Chinese Stephan Morweiser told reporters that the case was "particularly serious" as it shed light on "the extensive espionage interests that China has in relation to political, military and economic matters in Germany and the EU".When Jian G was taken into custody last year, China's foreign affairs ministry rejected his arrest as speculation designed "to smear and suppress China". It has denied allegations of espionage in Europe. Also on trial is a Chinese national named as Jaqi X. She worked at a firm that provided Leipzig airport with logistics mid-August 2023 to mid-February 2024, she is accused of assisting Jian G by repeatedly providing him with information for the Chinese intelligence service about flights, cargo, and passengers at Leipzig information related in particular to the transport of military equipment and people with connections to a German defence told the court she knew nothing about connections to the Chinese intelligence trial is expected to last until late September and reports in the German media say Maximilian Krah has been called to appear as a resigned from his seat in the European Parliament earlier this year. He was elected to the Bundestag in February via an AfD direct mandate in is currently under investigation by the Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office, reportedly concerning allegations of money laundering and corruption as an elected representative in the European has called the accusations "absurd and politically motivated."
News24
5 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Far-right German MP Maximilian Krah's ex-aide on trial for spying for China
Two people will go on trial in Germany over allegations of spying for China. One worked as an assistant to far-right politician Maximilian Krah. The trial could be embarrassing for the AfD. A German court will on Tuesday launch the trial of two suspected spies for China, one of whom worked as an assistant to the far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah. The German national, partially identified as Jian G, allegedly worked for Chinese intelligence from 2002, including while he was an aide to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEP Krah between 2019 and 2024. Jian G is accused by prosecutors in Dresden of using that position to pass on information about debates and decisions at the European Parliament, as well as some documents deemed highly sensitive. He is also suspected of being the handler for a second alleged operative, Chinese national Yaqi X, who is accused of spying on elements of the German arms industry. Jian G is also suspected of gathering intelligence on leading AfD politicians and spying on Chinese dissidents in Germany. This included posing as an opponent of the Chinese government on social media in order to gain contacts in the opposition scene. The second defendant, Yaqi X, worked at a company which provided Leipzig airport with logistics services and is accused of helping Jian G access information on flights and passengers. Jens Schlueter/AFP The information she passed on focused on flights transporting defence equipment and 'people with links to a German arms company'. According to German media reports, she particularly targeted arms giant Rheinmetall, which is involved in making Leopard tanks and which uses Leipzig airport for cargo flights. Both defendants have been in detention since they were arrested in 2024. The trial could be particularly embarrassing for the AfD if it leads to the information Jian G collected on the party becoming public. According to news weekly Der Spiegel, investigators have seized records that Jian G kept of conversations with Krah and other AfD politicians in which they discussed the private life of party co-leader Alice Weidel and alleged power struggles with her colleague Tino Chrupalla. Krah denied to the magazine ever having discussed such matters with Jian G. Krah was the AfD's top candidate in last year's European elections, but was excluded from its delegation after comments in which he minimised the crimes of the Nazis' notorious SS. However, he was welcomed back into the AfD fold for this year's German general election and now sits as one of the party's MPs in the Bundestag. The trial is expected to last until the end of September and Krah himself has been called to appear as a witness. Krah is also being investigated by prosecutors in Dresden on suspicion of money laundering and corruption during his time as a member of the European Parliament. According to Der Spiegel, between 2019 and 2023 he received more than €50 000 ($57 900) in payments from firms linked to Jian G. Krah denies all wrongdoing and says the accusations against him are 'politically motivated'.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former assistant to AfD politician goes on trial over Chinese spy charges
A former assistant to a far-right member of the European Parliament has gone on trial accused of spying for China. Jian G worked in the parliamentary office of Maximilian Krah, a member of the Alternative for (AfD) party, who sat in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2025. Prosecutors claim Mr G, whose full name has not been released in line with Germany's privacy laws, had been working for a Chinese secret service since 2002. The German national is accused of gathering intelligence and confidential documents to pass on to Chinese officials while working for Mr Krah between September 2019 and April 2024. A second defendant, Chinese national Jaqi X, is accused of assisting him, having worked for a logistics company at Leipzig Airport, where she is alleged to have provided data on the transportation of defence goods, flights, freight, and passengers. Beijing has denied accusations of espionage in Europe. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a Reuters request for comment on the German case. Read more from Sky News Krah is a controversial figure, even within his own party. He faces his own investigation of money laundering and bribery by China during his time in the European Parliament. He rejects the claims. The trial, at Dresden Court, is due to run until September.
Sky News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Former assistant to AfD politician goes on trial over Chinese spy charges
A former assistant to a far-right member of the European Parliament has gone on trial accused of spying for China. Jian G worked in the parliamentary office of Maximilian Krah, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who sat in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2025. Prosecutors claim Mr G, whose full name has not been released in line with Germany's privacy laws, had been working for a Chinese secret service since 2002. The German national is accused of gathering intelligence and confidential documents to pass on to Chinese officials while working for Mr Krah between September 2019 and April 2024. A second defendant, Chinese national Jaqi X, is accused of assisting him, having worked for a logistics company at Leipzig Airport, where she is alleged to have provided data on the transportation of defence goods, flights, freight, and passengers. Beijing has denied accusations of espionage in Europe. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a Reuters request for comment on the German case. Krah is a controversial figure, even within his own party. China during his time in the European Parliament. He rejects the claims. The trial, at Dresden Court, is due to run until September.
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
German trial reveals far-right AfD party's ties with Beijing
What did the Chinese authorities learn about the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party? That question lies at the heart of the trial that opened on Tuesday, August 5, before the Higher Regional Court of Dresden (Saxony). The defendant is a former aide to ex-MEP Maximilian Krah, the AfD's lead candidate in the 2024 European elections and now a member of the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament. The exposure of information transmitted to Beijing by this former parliamentary assistant – who holds both German and Chinese citizenship – could plunge the AfD, which came second in the German legislative elections of February 23 with nearly 21% of the vote, into further turmoil. Infighting within the party, the private lives of its leaders, bribes: From 2019 to 2024, Jian G. allegedly passed on everything he knew, read and heard about the AfD to Chinese intelligence services, even going so far as to hand over European Parliament documents considered "sensitive." Since his arrest in April 2024, German investigators have interviewed several AfD officials. All accused Jiang G. of spreading false information – "a compilation of rumors (...) having nothing to do with reality," Krah said.
