Member of the Bundestag Suspected of Intending to Transfer Classified Information to Putin 0 71

The deputy chair of the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" in the Bundestag, Markus Frohnmaier, announced a trip to Russia. His intentions have sparked harsh criticism within the governing coalition.

Critics of his trip see it as a potential leak of confidential information and a serious threat to Germany's security. "AfD has always posed a danger to national security because a large part of its members has acted in the interests of the enemies of our democracy, especially Vladimir Putin," stated Mark Henrichman, chairman of the Bundestag's committee for overseeing intelligence services.

Foreign policy expert from the CDU, Roderich Kiesewetter, urged the leadership of AfD to "prevent the trip, as it contradicts Germany's interests and is likely to result in information leaks." According to him, given that AfD regularly acts as a "mouthpiece and extended hand of the Kremlin," Russia wouldn't even have to make special efforts for espionage during such a trip.

Kiesewetter also warned against Moscow's targeted influence on European democracies. He stated that Russia deliberately uses friendly parties, such as AfD, for disinformation, to strengthen its influence, and to divide Europe. Domestic policy expert from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Sebastian Fiedler, believes that Frohnmaier maintains constant contacts with Russia and "is part of a large-scale Russian influence operation." The fact that he has now publicly announced his travel plans is "not a blunder, but part of this influence." According to the politician, this is aimed at expanding Russia's hybrid war against Europe. For the SPD politician, AfD is a "party of traitors to the homeland," posing a threat to a free society. Fiedler believes that democracy in Germany is "in serious danger."

34-year-old Markus Frohnmaier, who was born in Romania but grew up and was educated near Stuttgart, is considered a close confidant of the co-chair of "Alternative for Germany," Alice Weidel. He is also the head of the regional AfD branch in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.

At the beginning of his political career, from 2015 to 2018, Frohnmaier was the head of the federal leadership of the youth organization of AfD, "Young Alternative." Later, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution recognized it as far-right extremist.

Before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Frohnmaier's contacts with Russia were known, including his trips to annexed Crimea and to the self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist "republics" in eastern Ukraine. In particular, in May 2015, he participated in a conference in Donetsk. The magazine Der Spiegel in 2019 referred to Frohnmaier as "Putin's puppet."

The politician explained his intention to travel to Russia by stating that it is important to "maintain channels for negotiation." "I believe it is important to keep communication channels open because after this conflict, a new era will begin," Frohnmaier said in an interview with the German television channel n-tv. He added that "our American and other partners are already preparing for this."