German far-right accused of hiding pro-Russian cell

German lawmakers accused the far-right on Wednesday of hiding a "pro-Russian sleeper cell" and using parliamentary procedures to provide sensitive information to Moscow, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party rejected the accusations without providing any details.

In October, the main opposition party was criticized for its "problematic" parliamentary questions on critical infrastructure and the armed forces, aimed at passing classified information to Moscow.

At the request of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), members of the ruling coalition, the Bundestag today discussed "the impact of the AfD's relations with Russia on Germany's security interests."

The AfD's parliamentary questions carefully target arms deliveries to Ukraine, power plants, drone production and Bundeswehr bases, according to Mark Henrichmann, chairman of the intelligence oversight committee.

"What do these detailed questions have to do with parliamentary business? Wouldn't an enemy state want to know exactly this about its enemies? I think so," said he, a Conservative MP.

Henrichmann added that ties to the Kremlin could not be closer, referring to a "pro-Russian sleeper cell" within the AfD and naming several members who allegedly participate in it.

The accused party denied the "malicious" accusations.

"If anything were true, you would have locked us up a long time ago," said Markus Frohnmayer, deputy chairman of the AfD parliamentary group.

Henrichmann believes that the AfD is under Russian control, citing strategic documents from the Kremlin.

"The federal government has answered our questions, and the answers are publicly available," said AfD MP Stefan Kojter.

After a historic second-place finish in February's federal elections, the AfD is now ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives in several polls.

The political party (AfD) wants to "undermine Germany's security interests," said Social Democrat MP Sonja Eichwede, adding that the party is "a real danger to the country's democracy."

The parliamentary debate also focused on plans for far-right MPs to travel to Russia.

Frohnmayer announced his intention to visit Russia in the spring, citing the need to maintain an open dialogue with Moscow, before backing out.

Russia, despite its denials, has been accused of a major campaign of espionage, disinformation and sabotage in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.