The European Parliament has voted to lift the immunity of AfD MEP Petr Bystron in connection with allegations of bribery and money laundering. This isn’t the first time he’s been under investigation.
With the lifting of immunity, German investigative authorities can now proceed with their investigations into the AfD politician. Bystron has been a member of the European Parliament since 2024 and previously served in the German Bundestag. At the heart of the investigation is the suspicion that the parliamentarian may have accepted bribes since 2020 in connection with the pro-Russian portal Voice of Europe in exchange for pro-Russian speeches and votes in the Bundestag. Of particular concern is the allegation that the Czech intelligence service BIS possesses audio recordings documenting a 20,000 euro cash handover to Bystron. The meeting with Ukrainian businessman Artem Marchevskyi, during which the money was allegedly handed over in a car, was apparently tapped in Prague.
The disinformation network Voice of Europe is alleged to have been financed by Kremlin-linked oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk. Bystron and his party colleague Maximilian Krah visited Medvedchuk in Kyiv in 2021 when he was under house arrest for treason.
Furthermore, his former employee Marc Dassen was listed as an author at Voice of Europe while simultaneously working in Bystron’s Bundestag office. Dassen denies ever having been employed by Voice of Europe, stating that he only made corrections and translations there free of charge. However, ZEIT ONLINE has a previous author profile with ten articles published under his name at Voice of Europe. Dassen’s photo was also linked in the source code of this profile page. The former editor of the far-right Compact magazine has been working for Bystron again in the EU Parliament for several months – as a local assistant.
In addition to the corruption allegations, the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office also intends to continue investigating Bystron for money laundering. He is suspected of concealing the origin of funds through cash deposits and fragmented withdrawals in his company account. According to investigators, Bystron allegedly deposited 30,000 euros into his company account in March 2023 and then withdrew it in fragmented amounts. The investigating authorities say this also occurred in July 2021, April and September 2022, and June and July 2023.
In connection with the allegations of bribery and money laundering, the Bundestag had already lifted Bystron’s immunity in 2024. This led to searches at various locations, including Berlin, Mallorca, Munich, and Prague. After Bystron’s election to the EU Parliament, the proceedings had to be temporarily suspended due to his renewed immunity.
Petr Bystron vehemently denies all allegations. He calls them "nonsense," "defamation," and a "campaign" against him and the AfD. In a statement to the party leadership, he emphasized that he had never received money from Voice of Europe or Russian actors.
A further immunity procedure regarding suspicion of fraud with the Bundestag employee allowance is still pending. The Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee is currently examining the application from the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office. Research by ZEIT ONLINE last fall revealed that Bystron, as a member of the Bundestag, allegedly paid his private lawyer and private cleaning staff for years through the employee allowance in the Bundestag. Several hundred thousand euros from the state treasury could have been misappropriated in this way. According to the EU Parliament, the German state treasury suffered damages of 97,400 euros for the expenses incurred for his lawyer alone.
There are also allegations of tax evasion in five cases: Bystron is alleged to have submitted incorrect sales tax returns between 2017 and 2021 and thus defrauded the tax authorities of around 10,000 euros. Bystron stated that the investigations were "fabricated" and a "distraction maneuver" and would "lead to an embarrassment for the public prosecutor’s office."
Further investigations concern the dissemination of a Hitler salute photomontage on the platform X. In July 2022, Bystron posted a picture showing several leading German politicians in the style of the Hitler salute. The European Parliament had already voted to lift his immunity in April 2025 to allow these investigations to continue. Bystron’s lawyer rejected the allegations against his client, saying the investigation was "legal nonsense."
The accumulation of allegations paints a concerning picture of Bystron’s activities and raises serious questions about his integrity and adherence to the law. The allegations of accepting bribes from pro-Russian sources in exchange for political influence are particularly damaging, given the current geopolitical climate and concerns about foreign interference in democratic processes. The alleged cash handover in Prague, documented by the Czech intelligence service, is a particularly compelling piece of evidence that warrants thorough investigation.
The involvement of Voice of Europe and its alleged financing by Kremlin-linked oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk further deepens the concerns about Russian influence and potential collusion. Bystron’s visit to Medvedchuk in Kyiv while the latter was under house arrest adds to the suspicion surrounding his relationship with individuals linked to the Kremlin.
The allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and fraud with the Bundestag employee allowance further compound the legal troubles facing Bystron. These allegations suggest a pattern of disregard for financial regulations and a willingness to exploit his position for personal gain.
The dissemination of the Hitler salute photomontage on social media is also deeply problematic, as it trivializes the horrors of the Nazi regime and contributes to the spread of hateful rhetoric.
The fact that the Bundestag had already lifted Bystron’s immunity in 2024 in connection with the bribery and money laundering allegations underscores the seriousness of the accusations against him. The searches at various locations, including Berlin, Mallorca, Munich, and Prague, indicate that the investigative authorities are pursuing the case with significant resources and determination.
Bystron’s repeated denials of all allegations and his accusations of a "campaign" against him and the AfD are consistent with a strategy of deflection and denial. However, the weight of evidence and the multiple investigations suggest that these allegations should be taken seriously.
The European Parliament’s decision to lift Bystron’s immunity is a crucial step in allowing the German investigative authorities to pursue their investigations without hindrance. It is essential that these investigations are conducted thoroughly and impartially to determine the truth of the allegations and to hold Bystron accountable if he is found to have committed any wrongdoing. The integrity of democratic institutions and the rule of law depend on it.
