Suspicion of money laundering - Bystron case: searches also in the Czech Republic
In the course of money laundering and bribery investigations against the AfD politician Petr Bystron, investigators searched more objects again on Thursday - this time in the Czech Republic, according to information from the German Press Agency (dpa).
The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed in response to an inquiry, without mentioning a name, that further searches were carried out in the context of a proceeding regarding money laundering and bribery, "to secure further evidence." The searches were reportedly carried out at the suspect's premises, i.e. Bystron's, and those of witnesses.
The Bundestag granted approval for the execution of the search warrant earlier on Thursday. A search warrant is required for each search. The ZDF reported on the action first.
Bystron told the German Press Agency that the objects in the Czech Republic were two apartments in Prague. They belonged to him, but had been "long-term rented out" since several years.
Search of the parliamentary office already in May
This is now the third major search operation in the case. In May, Bavarian investigators had searched, among other things, Bystron's parliamentary office in the Bundestag. The parliamentarian from the Munich-North constituency is suspected of having received money in connection with the pro-Russian portal "Voice of Europe" in order to act in the Bundestag in the interests of Russia. The Bundestag lifted Bystron's immunity for the searches in May.
Bystron himself rejected the allegations and described the proceedings as politically motivated. Regarding the renewed searches on Thursday, the AfD politician said: "Nothing incriminating was found in the meantime in the twelve house searches in Germany, because the allegations have no basis. That will also remain the case after the further searches." Until the legally binding end of the proceedings, the presumption of innocence applies.
Investigators must soon take a coercive break
The search operation came just before the investigators in the Bystron case were due to take a coercive break due to Bystron's switch to the European Parliament. With his new mandate as an EU parliamentarian, Bystron, who ran for the AfD on list place two in the European elections, enjoys immunity again. Further investigations may only be carried out after the announcement of the lifting of his immunity by the European Parliament.
- Despite the ongoing investigations into money laundering and bribery allegations against AfD politician Petr Bystron in Germany, his two apartments in Prague, Czech Republic, were also subjected to searches by investigators.
- The German Press Agency reported that the searches were carried out in response to a proceeding initiated by the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office, which confirmed the actions but declined to provide names.
- The Bundestag authorized the execution of the search warrant earlier that day, requiring individual warrants for each search.
- ZDF was the first to break the news about the search operations, which were conducted at Bystron's residency and those of witnesses.
- Bystron, the Munich-North constituency parliamentarian, has repeatedly denied the accusations, describing the proceedings as politically motivated and without basis.
- This is the third major search operation since May, when Bystron's parliamentary office at the Bundestag was also searched. Allegations claim that he received funds from the pro-Russian portal "Voice of Europe" in exchange for acting in the Bundestag's interests.
- The AfD politician faces potential charges related to corruption and crime, as the investigations continue to uncover possible money laundering activities.
- Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office will remain under pressure to produce concrete evidence before Bystron's coercive break due to his new mandate as an EU parliamentarian, which declares him immune from further investigations unless explicitly granted permission by the European Parliament.
