Investigations into AfD Politician Krah Over Alleged Chinese Spy Money

Security agencies in Germany are probing allegations that AfD top candidate for the European elections, Maximilian Krah, may have received large secret payments from Chinese intelligence services through his long-time employee Jian G., who is in custody charged with espionage. Investigators suspect high five-figure sums were funneled for years via fake invoices to Krah's parliamentary office and former law firm in Dresden. Jian G., a Chinese-born German citizen, reportedly admitted to working for Chinese intelligence for two decades and allegedly wired over 50,000 euros to Krah. Krah denies knowledge of illicit funds, stressing that all invoices were proper and scrutinized by parliamentary authorities. The Federal Prosecutor's office has not charged Krah, treating him as a witness, while preliminary probes continue into suspected Russian influence operations connected to payments from pro-Kremlin networks involving other AfD politicians. Jian G. was arrested fearing he might flee and is suspected of espionage including spying on Chinese dissidents in Germany and leaking information on EU Parliament deliberations. The case highlights concerns over possible elite capture and foreign espionage leveraging political actors in Germany.