Petr Bystron: AfD politician convicted of “Hitler salute” collage

AfD politician Petr Bystron has been sentenced to a fine for distributing a photo montage on social media. The MEP must therefore pay 90 daily rates of 125 euros, a total of 11,250 euros – because of using the symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, said the judge at the Munich District Court. The verdict is not yet final.

The court considers it proven that Bystron used the banned Hitler salute with the photomontage, “particularly through the composition of the photos,” said the judge. However, the AfD politician himself did not hear this: he did not appear in court on Friday, but was represented by his defense lawyer. The reason for this initially remained unclear. Bystron and his defense attorney now have a week to appeal the verdict.

During the trial, Bystron’s defense attorney Peter Solloch spoke of a trial with a “political background” in which the person who extended his right arm was more important than the gesture itself. As evidence, the lawyer brought along recordings of other politically active people raising an arm.

In the court’s opinion, the MEP deliberately used the banned “Hitler salute” in the collage he distributed on Twitter in 2022. The photo montage featured, among others, former Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bettina Wulff, the wife of the former Federal President, with their arm raised and their hand outstretched.

Bystron shared the collage on the occasion of the dismissal of the then Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, with the caption “Bye, bye Melnyk! German politicians wave goodbye!” His defense attorney admitted in court that the AfD politician had written the post himself.

The court’s verdict fell somewhat short of the public prosecutor’s demands. This had a fine of 110 daily rates, meaning Bystron would have had a criminal record. With 90 daily rates, the court remained exactly below the threshold that would have to be reached for this.

The trial came about because Bystron had lodged an objection against a penalty order issued by the Munich District Court in the case. Bystron had previously described the procedure as a “discredit” in the recent European election campaign. He is surprised that the judiciary allows itself to be exploited for “such partisan political games.”