Suspected money laundering: EU Parliament raises immunity from AfD politician Bystron

A majority of the European Parliament have spoken out in Strasbourg for the abolition of the immunity of AfD politician Petr Bystron. The investigation against the MPs on suspicion of money laundering and bribery can now be continued.

The parliamentarian is accused of receiving money from the operator of the Proorussian Portal “Voice of Europe”. In his time, he is said to have acted as a member of the Bundestag in Berlin in the interests of Russia. In addition, Bystron tax evasion is “in at least five cases” and was accused of “at least six cases”, as can be seen from a report by the legal committee of the EU Parliament.

Bystron himself described the allegations against him as constructed and baseless after the decision. The procedure against him is “judiciary” and politically motivated, said Bystron. “We are experiencing a coordinated campaign for the criminalization of my peace -political views.”

“Voice of Europe” is suspected of paying money to European politicians and spreading pro -Russian propaganda. A broadcasting ban in the EU was decided for the platform around a year ago.

Immunity canceled

The Bundestag had already lifted Bystrons immunity last year. As a result, several search actions were carried out. When the judicial committee of the European Parliament had spoken out two weeks ago for the abolition of Bystrons’s immunity, the 52-year-old said on request that there were no evidence against him after 21 house searches.

“I am excited to see what knowledge the interrogation of my demented mother and the search of her retirement home room,” he said at the time on request. The presumption of innocence applies until the final end of the procedure.

Forced break for the investigators

After the change of AfD politician to the European Parliament, the investigators had to take a forced break. With the new mandate as an EU MP, Bystron, who had started at the European elections in the two of the AfD, again had parliamentary immunity.

Before the investigation break, Bavarian investigators searched by Bystrone’s member of the Member of the Member in the Bundestag. The investigator was also the goal of his residential address.

At the beginning of April, the European Parliament had already allowed investigations against Bystron to investigate other allegations. The background is a presumably relevant contribution on a social network. The procedure is currently pending at the Munich District Court. An appointment for a negotiation has not yet been determined.