Two lawmakers from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are traveling to Russia next week amid criticism of their party’s connections to the Kremlin and accusations of potentially sharing sensitive military information, which the AfD denies. The politicians will attend a summit in Sochi focused on cooperation between Europe and the BRICS countries, which include Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. Despite ongoing criticism of German military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, AfD members have maintained contact with Russian officials.
One of the lawmakers, Rainer Rothfuss, expressed his belief in using democratic debate to help prevent escalating conflict with Russia. He noted that the AfD views the trip as a way to keep communication channels open, similar to its interactions with U. S. politicians. Rothfuss is expected to meet with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, who has planned a closed discussion for summit participants.
Concerns from other German politicians are growing regarding the potential for the AfD to provide sensitive information to Russia. A senior member of the Bundestag defense committee has indicated that the questions posed by the AfD could be beneficial to foreign powers, especially given Russia’s increased espionage efforts in Germany. Defending the party’s actions, Deputy AfD parliamentary leader Stefan Keuter claimed their focus is on transparency and accountability in government. Additionally, the halt of Russian gas supplies following the Ukraine invasion has negatively impacted Germany’s economy. The AfD continues to face scrutiny over its ties to Russia, with recent investigations into two lawmakers for alleged foreign payments.
With information from Reuters