EU Parliament committee votes to lift far-right German MEP’s immunity

The European Parliament’s justice committee has voted to recommend lifting the immunity of a leading lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) over investigations into money laundering and bribery, MEPs told dpa in Brussels on Wednesday.

Petr Bystron is accused of having received money from the pro-Russian outlet Voice of Europe in order to act in favour of Russia in the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament.

The lawmaker’s immunity can only be fully removed by a majority of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the full chamber – as happened to Bystron earlier this month in a separate case in connection with a post on social media depicting German politicians performing controversial gestures.

Bystron has repeatedly denied the allegations and called the proceedings politically motivated.

His immunity in the bribery case was initially lifted by the Bundestag in May, with several searches subsequently being carried out before he was elected to the European Parliament in June.

According to Bystron, 21 searches have failed to provide any evidence against him.

“I am looking forward to seeing what has been found by questioning my mother with dementia and searching her room in her retirement home,” Bystron told dpa.