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AfD Lawmaker's Employee Arrested on Spying Charges
Assistant Suspected of Passing Information to China
Berlin, April 23, 2024
A man employed by a German lawmaker in the European Parliament has been detained on suspicion of espionage on behalf of China. The arrest was confirmed by Maximilian Krah, a senior member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and its top candidate in the upcoming European parliamentary elections in June.
In a statement, Krah expressed shock and surprise at the arrest of his assistant, identified as Jian Guo. He stated that he had learned about Guo's detention from media reports and had not been officially informed by authorities.
Krah's website lists Guo as one of his assistants. The European Parliament also confirms Guo's accreditation as an assistant to Krah, who is the AfD's lead candidate in the forthcoming EU-wide elections.
The arrest has raised concerns about foreign interference in European parliamentary elections. The AfD has been criticized for its close ties to Russia and other authoritarian states. The allegations of spying have further heightened scrutiny of the party's connections and potential vulnerabilities to foreign manipulation.
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