Concerns Mount Over Election Interference as MEP Faces Probe on Russian Influence

Concerns are escalating over potential efforts to manipulate the upcoming EU elections, with Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Krah facing additional scrutiny regarding a suspected Russian influence operation.

German authorities have detained an assistant to a far-right MEP on suspicion of espionage for China.

Prosecutors announced on Tuesday that Jian G is suspected of regularly providing information on the European Parliament’s activities to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). The arrest has sparked alarm in Europe about the threat to democracy ahead of the EU elections in June, while provoking outrage in Beijing.

Although the German government did not specify which politician employed the arrested individual, media reports indicated that the German national worked for Maximilian Krah.

Krah, a leading candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the upcoming European Parliament election, is among a list of populist politicians across Europe suspected of accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian narratives, a scheme uncovered by Czech intelligence earlier this month.

Jian G was apprehended in Dresden late on Monday, and his residence was searched, prosecutors stated. In addition to reporting on the European Parliament’s negotiations and decisions in January, he allegedly conducted surveillance on Chinese opposition figures in Germany.

Berlin’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the espionage allegations as “extremely serious,” emphasizing that if confirmed, it would constitute an attack on European democracy from within.

The AfD issued a brief statement expressing concern over the arrest and calling for further investigation by federal prosecutors.

China’s foreign ministry dismissed the reported arrest, attributing it to efforts to smear Beijing and harm bilateral relations.

The detention of Jian G follows the arrest of three others accused of spying for the MSS in Germany, a move that drew swift condemnation from the Chinese embassy in Berlin.

These developments come amid growing concerns in Germany about increasing attempts by Moscow and Beijing to exert political and economic influence. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s recent visit to China aimed to address economic relations and urge Beijing to withdraw its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In response to Jian G’s arrest, MEPs have called for an expedited investigation into foreign influence by the European Parliament to safeguard against interference in the upcoming elections.

“We demand preliminary results before the elections,” stated Green MEP Terry Reintke. “Autocracies like China and Russia are actively seeking to undermine our democracies in Europe.”