Spiegel: The German far-right party is suspected of passing secret information to Russia.

Suspicions of Attempts to Transfer Military Secrets: “Alternative for Germany” Under Scrutiny

In Germany, suspicions have arisen regarding the possible transfer of military information to Russia by the “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party. This is causing concern in German government circles.

Suspicions emerged after numerous AfD inquiries about Germany’s military capabilities, causing alarm among the Spiegel magazine and unnamed sources in the German Ministry of Defense. The Chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Thomas Rüwekamp, noted that such inquiries might reveal confidential information that could be used by other states, including Russia. He emphasized that this does not align with parliamentary interest and may be part of a targeted attempt to obtain secret data.

Meanwhile, AfD denies the espionage accusations, calling them absurd. Party representative Björn Höcke claims it’s an attempt to divert attention from the country’s real issues. However, many politicians, especially from the Social Democratic Party, express concern over the party’s demonstratively close ties with the Russian Embassy in Berlin.

This incident intensifies the debate over foreign policy influence on Germany’s domestic politics, particularly in light of recent claims that AfD’s initiatives are supported by Chinese intelligence. This raises questions about the party’s independence.

The “Alternative for Germany” party, founded in 2013, is known for its controversial stance. Initially Eurosceptic, the party now holds right-wing populist positions. In May 2024, it was recognized as extremist, accused of violating principles of human dignity and the rule of law. This decision became a subject of legal dispute, and AfD filed a lawsuit.