Police hearing in progress: Previous staffer of politician Krah (AfD) in the courtroom this morning - Defendant, a previous member of AfD, appears in court alongside co-defendant
News Article:
Espionage Trial of AfD Aide Rocks German Politics
A high-profile espionage trial is underway in Dresden, Germany, involving Jian G., a former aide to Maximilian Krah, a far-right AfD politician and ex-member of the European Parliament. Jian G. is accused of spying for China since 2002, allegedly supplying Chinese intelligence with more than 500 sensitive documents from the European Parliament, where he worked from 2019 to 2024 [1][2][4].
The trial began in August 2025 and involves a second defendant, Yaqi X., accused of assisting Jian G. by providing information about flights, cargo, and passengers at Leipzig Airport, including military equipment transports [3][4]. Jian G. was arrested in April 2024 [1].
Maximilian Krah denies discussing internal party matters with Jian G. and rejects allegations linking him to espionage activities. However, Krah is under separate investigation for money laundering and corruption related to business dealings connected to Jian G., including receiving payments from firms tied to him between 2019 and 2023 [3][5]. Krah's political career has also been controversial due to remarks perceived as minimizing Nazi crimes [5].
The trial could seriously impact the AfD, especially if sensitive information about the party's internal affairs becomes public, and is expected to last until the end of September 2025. Krah has been called to testify as a witness [5].
Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott had threatened to exclude the absent Democrats from the state parliament and possibly even press criminal charges, and the representatives have to pay a fine of $500 (approximately €432) for each day of their absence [6]. The governors' potential counter-offensive is in response to Democrats in the Texas legislature leaving the state to prevent a vote over the redrawing of electoral districts [7].
In a separate development, a group of volunteer "duck wardens" have formed in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, to accompany ducks across busy roads and provide them with protection and care [8]. The ducks undertake a daily journey from a river to a market square parking lot every evening and return around 4:30 AM [9].
On a global scale, German military aid supplies are being delivered to Gaza again [10], and negotiators are discussing the agreement against plastic waste once more [11]. NASA is planning to build an atomic reactor on the moon [12], and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and New York Governor Kathy Hochul are considering redrawing electoral districts in their states to benefit their own party [13].
Governor Hochul stated, "You have to fight fire with fire." [14]
[1] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/jian-g-geht-vor-gericht-afd-mitarbeiter-vor-gericht-wegen-spionage-angeklagt/27213168.html [2] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jian-g-geht-vor-gericht-der-fall-des-afd-mitarbeiters-a-2004010.html [3] https://www.dw.com/en/german-far-right-afd-ex-mep-krah-under-investigation-over-corruption/a-63142487 [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/german-court-hears-case-against-ex-afd-mep-accused-spying-china-2025-08-02/ [5] https://www.thelocal.de/20250802/german-far-right-afd-ex-mep-krah-under-investigation-over-corruption [6] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/02/us/texas-democrats-absent-fine/index.html [7] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/02/texas-democrats-leave-state-to-block-republican-redistricting-bill.html [8] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-61487094 [9] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-61487094 [10] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/german-military-aid-reaches-gaza-strip-2025-08-02/ [11] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/08/02/plastic-waste-agreement-negotiators-return-to-the-table [12] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/02/world/nasa-moon-atomic-reactor/index.html [13] https://www.politico.eu/article/illinois-new-york-govs-consider-redrawing-electoral-districts-to-benefit-their-own-party/ [14] https://www.politico.eu/article/kathy-hochul-new-york-gov-redistricting-midterms/
- The Commission, while awaiting comments from the Member States, has been closely monitoring the ongoing trial in Germany regarding a former aide to a far-right AfD politician, who is accused of spying for China.
- Amidst the trial and the controversy surrounding the AfD, general news and crime-and-justice sections have been giving extensive coverage to the espionage case and its potential impact on politics and policy-and-legislation in the country.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of war-and-conflicts, negotiations continue on a global agreement against plastic waste and the delivery of German military aid to Gaza remains a topic of discussion.
