Germany arrests three people on suspicion of spying, supplying sensitive technologies to China
- In Reports
- 09:22 PM, Apr 23, 2024
- Myind Staff
German police have apprehended an aide of a prominent European lawmaker associated with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, alleging espionage on behalf of China. The arrested individual, identified as Jian G. by German authorities, is employed by MEP Maximilian Krah, who serves as the AfD's lead candidate in the upcoming European Parliament election in June. According to the German public prosecutor, "Jian G. is an employee of a Chinese secret service." This arrest has sent shockwaves through the AfD, currently polling in second place nationally, prompting calls from a senior European lawmaker for stricter measures against Chinese and Russian agents attempting to influence EU democracy.
Belgium has launched a criminal inquiry into allegations that a group of European politicians, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), received payments from a media organization controlled by a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch. Meanwhile, in Latvia, an MEP is under investigation for suspected collaboration with the Russian secret service.
Regarding Maximilian Krah's parliamentary assistant, the German public prosecutor's office stated that "the accused regularly provided information about negotiations and resolutions in the European Parliament to his intelligence service employer." Prosecutors have also accused him of conducting surveillance on Chinese dissidents in Germany.
In a statement released on 23rd May, Krah asserted that he had no prior awareness of his assistant's purported espionage activities. "I was informed of the arrest of my employee Jian Guo this morning through the media," Krah stated. "I lack further details. Spying for a foreign nation is a grave accusation. Should the allegations be substantiated, it would lead to the immediate termination of his employment."
A spokesperson for the European Parliament declared that, "in light of the gravity of the disclosures," the Parliament has taken action to suspend Krah's assistant immediately.
The AfD maintains a robust second-place position in Germany's political landscape, trailing behind the conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU). However, the party has experienced a decline in support recently due to a series of scandals.
Krah is expected to appear before a disciplinary panel comprising other MEPs in the near future, as confirmed by an EU Parliament official who spoke anonymously due to the confidential nature of the matter.
The panel was convened following reports in the German media suggesting that Krah had been interrogated by the FBI during a visit to the U.S. regarding purported payments from individuals with ties to the Kremlin. Krah has refuted these allegations, denying any receipt of payments.
Image Source: ETV Bharat
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