EU Parliament Revokes Immunity for AfD Legislator Bystron - European Parliament removes immunity from AfD politician Bystron
Got some juicy news for you! The European Parliament, in a significant move, has voted to strip the immunity of Petr Bystron, an AfD (Alternative for Germany) member of their ranks. His immunity was lifted due to mounting allegations of corruption, money laundering, and fraud against him.
The investigations against this MEP can now continue fully, as he faces charges of receiving money from the operator of the pro-Russian portal "Voice of Europe" and acting in Russia's interests during his tenure as a Bundestag MP. In addition to that, he's accused of evading taxes in five instances and committing fraud in six, according to reports from the EU Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee.
Bystron: Politically Motivated Attacks?
However, Mr. Bystron has firmly denied all the allegations, labeling them as politically motivated. "Voice of Europe" is suspected of funding European politicians and spreading pro-Russian propaganda. Last year, a broadcaster ban on the platform was imposed in the EU.
With the Bundestag having already lifted Bystron's immunity last year, investigations proceeded, leading to several search operations. When the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee voted to lift Bystron's immunity two weeks ago, he claimed that there was still no evidence against him following 21 house searches.
"I'm eager to see what tasty revelations the interrogation of my dementia-stricken mother and the search of her nursing home room have uncovered," he said at the time. As the presumption of innocence still holds, we remain curious about the outcome.
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A Temporary Setback for Investigators
When Bystron moved to the European Parliament, investigators had to hit the pause button. With his new MEP status, he regained parliamentary immunity, slowing down the pursuit of evidence against him.
Before the investigation break, Bavarian investigators searched Bystron's Bundestag office and his private residence.
In early April, the European Parliament granted clearance for investigations against Bystron, stemming from suspicions of a criminally relevant social media post.
- Petr Bystron
- AfD
- European Parliament
- Immunity
- EU
- Russia
- The European Parliament, citing allegations of corruption, money laundering, and fraud, has voted to strip immunity from Petr Bystron, an Alternative for Germany (AfD) member in the European Parliament.
- Bystron is accused of receiving money from the operator of the pro-Russian portal "Voice of Europe" and acting in Russia's interests during his tenure as a Bundestag MP, as well as evading taxes in five instances and committing fraud in six, according to reports from the EU Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee.
- Despite the allegations, Bystron has denied them, suggesting they are politically motivated.
- With Bystron's new MEP status, investigators had to pause their pursuit of evidence against him due to his parliamentary immunity, but in early April, the European Parliament granted clearance for investigations against him, stemming from suspicions of a criminally relevant social media post.
