- Pending decision in the trial of the "Citizens of the Reich" advocates
In the retrial for Reichsbürger advocate Peter Fitzek at Dessau-Roßlau Regional Court, a decision hasn't been made yet. The extensive hearing, which involved several days and various witnesses, including soldiers, is still ongoing. Previously, the district court in Wittenberg had given Fitzek an eight-month prison sentence without probation for intentional harm and insult. An appeal led to this trial being reheard.
Fitzek momentously challenged the authenticity of the witnesses' testimonies. Initially, he made extensive statements during the trial, but not regarding the allegations against him. When the judge refused to let him speak extensively again after the witnesses had given their testimony, Fitzek's legal team filed a motion for recusal and threatened additional motions. The trial is set to continue on August 29.
Fitzek is alleged to have forcefully pushed a female worker against a door and then kicked her during a dispute at Wittenberg's district administration building on March 1, 2022. As per the district administration, she was temporary staff from a security company. He also allegedly insulted two military personnel who attempted to intervene.
Fitzek, who once proclaimed himself the "King of Germany" and the head of state in "Lutherstadt Wittenberg" twelve years ago, has had numerous court appearances in the past. He has been accused of various offenses, such as unlicensed driving and illegal banking activities, and has been convicted on multiple occasions.
The 58-year-old hails from Halle. German Reichbaurers believe that the German Reich (1871-1945) continues to exist and do not acknowledge the existence of the Federal Republic or its laws.
Fitzek's legal team argued that the extreme views of Reichsbürger advocates, including himself, might have influenced the witnesses' testimonies, implying a potential bias. Despite the ongoing trial, concerns about the spread of extremist ideologies among Reichsbürger supporters continue to be a matter of concern for German authorities.
