The Munich public prosecutor had requested to investigate the alleged use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations.
German MEP Petr Bystron, a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), had his immunity revoked by the European Parliament earlier today. The Munich public prosecutor’s office had requested to investigate the German politician regarding the alleged use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations.
In July 2022, Bystron posted a photo collage with politicians holding up their right or left arm, pictured in such a way as to appear they were giving a Hitler salute. The post on what was then still known as Twitter, accompanied by the caption “Bye, bye […]! German politicians wave goodbye!,” followed the news that the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, would leave his office.
Bystron has also been facing another investigation by German authorities into bribery allegations related to payments from the sanctioned Russian-backed news network Voice of Europe. But that case has been on hold because of Bystron’s parliamentary immunity.
The vote on Tuesday to waive his immunity applies only to the case over his tweet, the European Parliament told to Euractiv.
A waiver for the bribery investigation has also been requested, public prosecutors in Munich told Euractiv, adding that “once a decision has been made by the European Parliament will the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office decide whether to reopen the investigation”. The next session of the Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs is set for 9 April, on which the issue might be discussed.
The European Parliament also waived the immunity of three other MEPs on Tuesday. Two Polish parliamentarians – Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik – from the national-conservative PiS party are accused of not complying with a ban on holding public office, while Czech MEP Jana Nagyova (ANO) has been accused of subsidy fraud and can now be investigated as well.
