AfD discusses ban on appearances for European election candidate Bystron
Petr Bystron speaks of “unproven allegations”
Source: picture alliance/dts agency/-
A Czech newspaper reports that AfD politician Petr Bystron is said to have received money from Russia. AfD politician Maximilian Krah demands that Bystron not make any election campaign appearances until the allegations are clarified. Bystron himself says he has nothing to blame himself for.
In the affair surrounding alleged cash payments from Russia, there is discussion within the AfD about banning European election candidate Petr Bystron from appearing. WELT learned this from party circles. Accordingly, Bystron should be banned from making election campaign appearances.
Maximilian Krah, AfD’s leading candidate in the European elections, told WELT: “Petr Bystron should not make any election campaign appearances until the allegations in question have been clarified.” According to WELT information, a decision on a ban on appearances will be made at a meeting of the Federal Executive Board on Monday.
The Czech news portal “Denik N” reported on Tuesday that the secret service in Prague had evidence in the form of audio recordings that Bystron had received money from Russia. The medium did not provide any details. The AfD politician told WELT that he had nothing to blame himself for.
The AfD demands information from Bystron about the allegations. In a letter from Federal Managing Director Hans-Holger Malcomeß on Wednesday, he was informed that the two co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were asking him to submit a written statement on all allegations against him by Thursday.
The allegations against Bystron concern the pro-Russian network “Voice of Europe”. The cabinet in Prague decided on Wednesday last week to put operators and people behind the internet platform, such as Putin confidant Viktor Medvedchuk, on the national sanctions list. Bystron’s name is 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 proof should be audio recordings,” said a minister.
The “Voice of Europe” portal had, among other things, published 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. After the Czech sanctions became known, Krah denied having received any money for the interviews.
Bystron said about the letter from the AfD federal manager to the dpa news agency: The fact that party colleagues wanted to get first-hand information in view of the media reports was normal and right. So far, however, these have only been “unproven accusations and claims”. He added: “The Czech secret service should finally publish the alleged recordings so that there is clarity.”
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,” said Bystron.