German Authorities Charge Former AfD Staffer with Espionage

The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe has announced charges against Jian G., a former employee of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Maximilian Krah, for espionage activities. Jian G., a German citizen of Chinese descent, has allegedly been working with a Chinese intelligence agency since 2002. His arrest took place in April 2024 in Dresden.

The authorities have accused him of engaging in serious intelligence operations, claiming he acquired over 500 documents, including materials classified as sensitive by the European Parliament. Reports indicate that during 2023 and 2024, Jian G. monitored Chinese dissidents and opposition figures in Germany, posing as a critic of the Chinese government on social media platforms.

Furthermore, Jian G. is alleged to have compiled detailed dossiers in Chinese on prominent AfD politicians, including party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, outlining their roles and influence within the party. As of now, he remains in pre-trial detention.

In an interview, Krah stated that Jian G. was not specifically focused on high-ranking AfD officials, suggesting that his role involved external trade, which might have exposed him to various political matters. Krah has expressed that he considers himself a victim in this situation, noting that he has hired a legal expert to conduct thorough background checks on new staff members in his office.

Following Jian G.'s arrest, German authorities conducted searches of both Jian G.'s and Krah's offices at the European Parliament in Brussels. They clarified that the search was part of witness-related measures and that the European Parliament had permitted access to the premises.

In a related development, authorities apprehended a Chinese national working at a logistics firm at Leipzig/Halle Airport in late September 2024. This individual is accused of relaying sensitive information regarding flights, cargo, and passenger details to Jian G. The focus of the information allegedly included the transport of military goods and connections to a German arms company. Like Jian G., she is also detained under suspicion of espionage for a Chinese intelligence agency.

On the same day as Jian G.'s arrest, three additional individuals suspected of espionage for China were detained in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg. These suspects, two men and a woman, are alleged to have gathered information on military technology related to research projects to pass on to Chinese intelligence.

In response to the increasing number of espionage incidents, the former Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann raised concerns about potential future cases. The cabinet approved plans for stricter security measures aimed at preventing foreign spies and saboteurs from gaining access to sensitive government and corporate sectors.

A proposed amendment to the security clearance law, which included enhanced internet research protocols, was not discussed in the Bundestag before the advance elections.

Additional context surrounding Jian G. reveals that he had previously attempted to work with the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) but was rejected. Reports indicate that he also sought employment with the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which similarly found him unreliable.