Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office has pressed espionage charges against a former aide of far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Maximilian Krah, and a Chinese national, both of whom are accused of working for Chinese intelligence agencies. The arrest marks a significant development in a larger investigation into suspected foreign espionage targeting German and European political entities.
The former aide, identified only as Jian G., a German citizen, is accused of passing classified European Parliament documents to Chinese agents. These documents included sensitive materials related to negotiations and decisions within the European Parliament, which Jian G. allegedly accessed illegally. Prosecutors claim he had unauthorized access to over 500 documents, some of which were deemed “particularly sensitive.”
In addition to espionage on European parliamentary affairs, Jian G. is also suspected of gathering intelligence on senior AfD leaders, including party heads Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. He is believed to have obtained assessments on their political roles and standing through confidential conversations with Krah, who served as an MEP from 2019 to 2025.
The investigation also led to the arrest of three individuals in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg, suspected of espionage on behalf of China. One of the suspects, a woman employed at a logistics company at Leipzig/Halle airport, allegedly passed on sensitive information about military logistics, flights, freight, and passengers to Jian G. She was arrested in November 2024 in Leipzig.
German authorities have indicated that Maximilian Krah’s office in Brussels was searched as part of the investigation, although Krah himself is not currently facing charges. The case highlights the growing concerns over foreign influence operations and espionage targeting German political figures and institutions.