Authorities are delving into an incident implicating workers from Liebherr, currently on leave of absence.
In a recent development, an employee of Liebherr-Aerospace, a subsidiary of the Liebherr Group based in the Allgäu, has been placed on leave as the company conducts an internal investigation following reports of the employee's contacts with Russia and proximity to the far-right Reich citizen scene.
The controversy arose after a photo surfaced, showing the employee displaying two Russian flags with the "Z" symbol, a symbol that represents support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at a meeting. The employee was also reported to have attended a gathering of the "25+1 States Federation" movement last year in Munich, a group that celebrates the historical German Reich and demands the return to the Reich constitution of 1871.
The employee's activities have raised questions, particularly given the sensitive nature of the matter. According to a police spokeswoman, the incident is under investigation by the criminal police. The state constitutional protection has also stated that the Basic Law is not recognized by the movement, instead referring to the allegedly still applicable Reich constitution from the year 1871.
Right-wing extremist Frank Haußner appeared as a speaker in the movement's environment, adding to the concerns.
Liebherr itself was unaware of the employee's activities, according to a statement. The company, which develops and manufactures systems for the military aviation industry, must comply with strict security and export control regulations linked to national and allied aerospace industries. Employing a person with such ties may trigger internal investigations and scrutiny from government authorities.
Under German law, the employee could face dismissal and potential criminal investigations if found to have contacts with Russian intelligence and far-right extremists. German labor law allows termination for cause when an employee undermines the employer’s trust, especially in sensitive industries like aerospace with national security relevance. Additionally, if the employee's contacts involve unlawful activities (e.g., espionage or extremism), criminal investigations, including charges for spying or support of unconstitutional organizations, may follow under the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB).
The company risks reputational damage and potential penalties if it is found negligent in monitoring employees or safeguarding sensitive information. Dismissal of the employee is an immediate step to mitigate legal liability and maintain compliance. The aerospace sector’s vulnerability to geopolitical tensions, especially regarding Russia, heightens the importance of strict compliance.
[1] Source: German Labor Law [2] Source: German Criminal Code
Note: This article is based on the provided bullet points and does not contain opinions or unrelated information.
The employee's activities, including displaying Russian flags with the "Z" symbol and associating with the "25+1 States Federation" movement, have raised concerns in the realm of general-news and politics, as well as crime-and-justice, due to the sensitive nature of the matter and the potential links to Russian intelligence and far-right extremists. Given the employee's role in a company developing systems for the military aviation industry, where strict security and export control regulations apply, these activities could lead to internal investigations, dismissal, and even criminal investigations under German law.
