German politicians make serious accusations against the "Alternative for Germany": there are indications that the Russia-friendly party is using the parliamentary control mechanism to work in the interests of the Kremlin.
The Interior Minister of the federal state of Thuringia has increased suspicions against the "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) of espionage: Social Democrat Georg Mayer expressed concern in an interview with "Handelsblatt" that the AfD is abusing its right to ask questions in the provincial parliaments during parliamentary control time in order to obtain targeted information about the transport and digital infrastructure, water and energy supply in Germany. "It gives the impression that the AfD is acting on a list given to it by the Kremlin with its questions," says Meyer.
The Thuringian interior minister points out that in his state alone, the AfD has asked 47 such questions in the past 12 months, with "increasing intensity and attention to detail."
"The AfD has shown particular interest in police technology and equipment, such as in the area of drone detectors and protection against them," Meyer explains. There were also questions related to civil protection equipment, healthcare and the activities of the Bundeswehr.
The questioning of members of parliament is a tool for parliamentary control of the government's work and for providing information for political discussions. They are mainly seen as a tool for opposition parties, which do not have direct access to ministries and departments of the government. The government must provide the answers in writing.
In Thuringia, the chairman of the AfD faction is Björn Höcke - designated as a far-right extremist by the security services. He was also convicted of using a banned National Socialist slogan.
"Alternative for Germany" glorifies Putin's Russia
In the past, Höcke has repeatedly spoken favorably about Russia and President Vladimir Putin. For example, in a YouTube video from January 2023, almost a year after the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, he says: “Today, Russia, whether anyone wants to hear it or not in the mainstream media, is a country that is associated not only with negative associations, but also with a country that raises hopes that I could be the leader of a world of free and sovereign states without hegemonic influence”.
Höcke categorically rejects the accusations of Interior Minister Meyer from the Social Democratic Party. Moreover, he reproaches him for having a problem with the rule of law. “There is no evidence for his claims. He is angry that the opposition is doing what should be its constitutional duty - to control the work of the government and, if necessary, to criticize it.” Höcke also claims that the questions to the ministers on various topics also serve to prepare for the AfD to take over the government. His faction in the Thuringian parliament was also considering filing a complaint against the interior minister, against whom there are already demands for his resignation.
The AfD is the largest political force in Thuringia. But because of its proven right-wing extremist connections, all other parties have refused to work with it. Since last year, the state has been governed by a coalition of the Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and the Union of Sarah Wagenknecht.
Releasing state secrets?
However, Mayer's position has received support from the Bundestag: the chairman of the parliamentary committee on secret service activities, Mark Henrichmann of the CDU, told the RND media network: “I am firmly convinced that Putin is using the AfD as an obedient tool and the party leadership does not have the strength to refuse this form of betrayal”.
Henrichmann notes that it was precisely on the basis of such concerns that AfD representatives were not allowed to join the committee he heads.
Reprehensions about the AfD's closeness to Russia are constantly made. A number of MPs from this party have maintained close contacts with Putin's entourage in the past. MP Jan Nolte, for example, has written for the Russian propaganda newspaper Izvestia in the past. And the deputy chairman of the AfD faction in the Bundestag, Markus Frohnmeier, was among the organizers of the International Economic Forum in Yalta in 2018, supported by the Russian government and the Russian secret service FSB. In October 2025, Frohnmeier announced that he wanted to travel to Moscow for political talks.
A number of other party officials have repeatedly appeared in the media in the past with statements downplaying Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Because of the AfD's proximity to Russia, Thuringia's Interior Minister Meyer is now insisting that the "aspect of national treason" be taken into account when preparing a request to ban the party. "The AfD is hostile to the Constitution not only because of its nationalist ideas, but also because it threatens our liberal democracy through its links to authoritarian systems."