Thuringia Interior Minister Accuses AfD of Spying for Russia, Suggests Possible Ban

Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) has made serious allegations against the Alternative for Germany (AfD), accusing the party of spying for Russia. In an interview with Handelsblatt, Maier stated that the AfD has been systematically using its parliamentary rights to investigate critical infrastructure in Thuringia, raising concerns about potential security breaches. Over the past year alone, the AfD submitted 47 parliamentary inquiries focused on sensitive areas such as traffic infrastructure, water supply, digital infrastructure, energy, and notably police IT and equipment including drone detection and defense capabilities.

Maier emphasized the gravity of these actions by highlighting a "treasonous aspect" to the AfD’s behavior, which could be grounds for a party ban. He also accused several AfD politicians of having close ties with authoritarian regimes, suggesting that this could put sensitive information at risk. The Interior Minister called for these espionage concerns to be taken into account in any discussions about outlawing the AfD.

In response, AfD parliamentary group leader Bernd Baumann dismissed the allegations as absurd. Baumann claimed that the party’s inquiries are aimed at uncovering mismanagement within Germany’s infrastructure and serve the public interest rather than any foreign agenda.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding the AfD and its role in German politics, particularly in Thuringia, where the party remains influential. The accusations deepen ongoing debates about national security and the legitimacy of the AfD’s parliamentary activities.

As of October 22, 2025, these developments continue to evolve, with calls for potential legal action against the AfD and scrutiny of its affiliations. Thuringian and federal authorities will likely monitor these accusations closely to determine appropriate responses.