Far-right German politician loses parliamentary immunity due to allegations of bribe acceptance from Russian sources.
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**Bye-Bye, Immunity: The European Parliament Strips Petr Bystron of His Protection
Petr Bystron, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, lost his parliamentary immunity on Tuesday, following allegations of receiving bribes to support the Russian government. Bystron slammed the move as a "targeted political stunt."
According to the European Parliament, Bystron's suspected corrupt activities date back to his term as a member of the German parliament. He stands accused of exchanging cash payments and cryptocurrency transfers from the pro-Russian website, 'Voice of Europe,' in exchange forhis promises to promote the Russian government's interests.
TheIdentification of Bystron'sname alongside other far-right MEPs in an investigation into Russian influence over the European Parliament through 'Voice of Europe' further fueled the controversy. Piquing interest was Bystron's apparent pattern of transferring large sums between accounts connected to the company he owns and manages.
The European Parliament's report on the case highlighted unusual transactions in July 2021, April 2022, September 2022, and June and July 2023. Bystron is also charged with passive corruption, money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion, with allegations that he submits incorrect VAT returns, hires his lawyer as a parliamentary assistant, and defrauded the German public of over €97,000.
In what appears to be an unequivocal decision, the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted to waive Bystron's immunity without a tally. Bystron reacted to the decision, stating, "The removal of my immunity is not a lawful procedure but a targeted political maneuver. The public prosecutor should be investigating the masterminds behind this campaign rather than its victims."
The European Parliament's fellow AfD delegation viewed the move as a politically motivated attempt to discreditBystron, who has been one of the parliament's most vocal opponents of the war in Ukraine. However, the rapporteur for Bystron's immunity waiver, French MEP Pascale Piera, asserted that the MEP's case did not exhibit evidence of political persecution.
What is parliamentary immunity, andwhy was it waivered?
The waiver ofBystron’s immunity opens the door for German authorities to investigate him further, potentially even placing him under arrest. This decision was the third request for the waiver of Bystron’s immunity: one was already approved by the Parliament on April 1, with another ongoing in the Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI). Waiving immunity does not equate to a guilty verdict, but rather signals the beginning of judicial proceedings.
Before any legal proceedings can be launched against an MEP, investigative authorities must ask for the waiver of parliamentary immunity. Parliamentary privilege shields MEPs from legal actions relating to their parliamentary duties, but does not exempt them from the law when they are caught in the act of committing an offense. Immune MEPs cannot claim immunity when their actions are mixed with criminal acts.
When national authorities submit a request to the chamber, the Parliament's president announces it in plenary and refers it to the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI). The committee investigates the case and the MEP in question is given an opportunity to present their defense. Following this internal investigation, the JURI Committee makes a recommendation on whether to approve or reject the request to lift the MEP's immunity, with the final decision being made by the European Parliament as a whole.
Additional Insights
- Parliamentary immunity is essential to maintain the independence of the European Parliament and its members, ensuring they can represent the citizens without fear of politically-motivated legal harassment.
- Only when there is compelling evidence that the parliamentary work of an MEP is intertwined with criminal activities will the European Parliament consider waiving immunity.
- The parliament's legal affairs committee conducts a thorough investigation before making a recommendation on whether to approve or reject the waiver request, guaranteeing that the process is fair and independent.
- The European Parliament's decision to waive Petr Bystron's immunity enables the prosecution to intensify investigations into his alleged corrupt activities.
- Bystron, an outspoken opponent of the war in Ukraine, has been accused of receiving shortcuts from the pro-Russian website, 'Voice of Europe,' in exchange for his support of Russia's interests.
- In the general-news and crime-and-justice sector, the waiver of Bystron's immunity was a contentious issue, with some viewing it as a politically motivated attack against him.
- Despite Bystron's claims that the waiver of his immunity was a politically targeted move, the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee conducted an extensive investigation before approving the request, ensuring a fair and independent process.
