The pressure on Bystron is increasing: the AfD candidate for the European elections is to explain himself about allegations in connection with the Russian propaganda portal “Voice of Europe”. The party leadership gives him until Thursday.
AfD member of the Bundestag Petr Bystron is to provide his party with information about allegations made against him in a Czech newspaper in connection with Russian disinformation campaigns.
The party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are demanding a written explanation from Bystron. Dem ARD capital studio There is a corresponding letter from the AfD party executive committee. It states that Bystron has until Thursday at 2 p.m. to respond to the allegations in a statement.
The party leadership refers, among other things, to a report about an audio recording that is supposed to incriminate Bystron. The Czech newspaper “Denik N” reported, citing intelligence sources, that Bystron was suspected of having been in contact with the pro-Russian network “Voice of Europe”. He may also have accepted money. “Spiegel” also reported on possible payments from “Voice of Europe” to the AfD politician. In total, several hundred thousand euros are said to have flowed to European politicians via the Russian “Voice of Europe” network.
Czech Cabinet deals with “Voice of Europe”
The cabinet in Prague decided on Wednesday last week to put operators and backers of the internet platform, such as Putin confidant Viktor Medvedchuk, on the national sanctions list. Bystron’s name was also said to have been mentioned at the meeting, as “Denik N” reported, citing several ministers.
“We were given information that Bystron was a suspect. And the evidence should be audio recordings,” a minister said. Another government member, who did not want to be named, said that the head of the BIS domestic intelligence service, Michal Koudalka, had confirmed that Bystron had been documented. “He said it with these words. It’s about the sound. You can record the handing over of money as audio. But we didn’t look into it any further. It wasn’t played to us. He just informed us about it.”
Bystron: “I have nothing to blame”
“Voice of Europe” had, among other things, broadcast interviews with the AfD politicians Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron, who are in the first two places on the AfD’s list of candidates for the European elections. Krah denies allegations that he also received money from the Russian platform. Bystron has so far evaded the allegations.
Bystron told the dpa news agency that party colleagues wanted to find out first-hand information in view of the media reports. So far, however, these have only been “unproven accusations and claims.” The Czech secret service must “finally publish the alleged recordings so that there is clarity.”
Bystron emphasized: “I have nothing to blame myself for.” According to him, there will soon be a personal conversation with the party leadership. “We will meet in person after Easter in peace and quiet and discuss everything.”
With information from Philip Brost, ARD capital studio
Philip Brost, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, April 3, 2024 4:40 p.m