Allegations arise of a former AfD employee conducting espionage on behalf of China
On the 5th of August, 2025, the Higher Regional Court in Dresden is hearing a significant spy case. The case in question involves Jian G., a former aide to far-right AfD politician Maximilian Krah.
Prosecutors allege that Jian G. has been spying for China since as early as 2002. They claim that he passed on sensitive information related to German political, economic, and military matters to Chinese intelligence, including over 500 classified documents from the European Parliament during Krah’s tenure as an MEP from 2019 to 2024.
The espionage activities, spanning over two decades, allegedly include the sharing of internal discussions and decisions within the European Parliament, as well as personal data about prominent AfD leaders such as Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. There are also accusations of spying on Chinese opposition members and dissidents based in Germany.
A second defendant, a Chinese national named Yaqi X., stands accused of assisting Jian G. by providing intelligence related to flights, cargo, and passengers at Leipzig Airport, including transport of military equipment linked to German arms companies.
Jian G. was arrested in Dresden in April 2024 and brought to trial in August 2025. The trial is scheduled for multiple sessions through September 2025.
The defense denies the espionage allegations, claiming Jian G. primarily handled foreign trade issues and did not share sensitive information with Chinese officials. Meanwhile, prosecutors insist the evidence shows ongoing espionage activities.
Maximilian Krah, the former politician, has denied any knowledge of espionage activities and claims he never discussed internal party issues with Jian G. However, Krah is separately under investigation for unrelated allegations including money laundering and corruption.
This case highlights concerns over foreign intelligence activities targeting German political institutions and the AfD specifically, raising broader issues of espionage and national security within the EU context.
ARD expert Holger Schmidt is analysing the case, and the video link provided offers a detailed analysis. The rights for the video belong to MIDDLE GERMAN BROADCASTING. The article was published at 19:30.
As the trial unfolds, Torben Lehning is looking at the reactions of the AfD in relation to this case. This is not an average spy case, and its implications for German politics and national security are significant.
- The spy case involving Jian G., a former aide to Maximilian Krah, is raising concerns over foreign intelligence activities targeting German political institutions, particularly war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, as it allegedly includes the sharing of sensitive information related to these areas.
- In addition to the espionage allegations, this case is also shedding light on the broader issues of espionage and national security within the European Union context, especially considering the alleged spying on Chinese opposition members and dissidents based in Germany.
