German police search offices of right-wing lawmaker Petr Bystron

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German police searched the offices of right-wing politician Petr Bystron over claims that he received money from a pro-Russian network, local media reported on Thursday.

The German parliament has lifted the protective immunity of the AfD lawmaker Bystron over an ongoing criminal investigation, and the police carried out searches at his offices and other properties, public broadcaster ARD reported.

The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated the investigations against the politician due to “initial suspicions of bribery and money laundering” and reportedly searched several properties in Berlin, Munich, and on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

German weekly Der Spiegel had reported earlier that a counterintelligence operation of European spy agencies had revealed that Petr Bystron was among the politicians who received money from a pro-Russian network. The weekly claimed that Russia was covertly financing European politicians that are acceptable to Moscow.

Bystron, who denied the allegations, has been a prominent figure of the party, and running as a candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections.