German media reported that the leading candidate for the European Parliament elections of the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AzG) Maximilian Kra was questioned by the American FBI about possible payments from pro-Russian benefactors, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The interrogation took place in December 2023 in the US, before Kra returned to Germany from a visit to a Young Republicans event in New York, Spiegel said, citing information also reported by the German public television channel Cet De Ef.
Asked to comment by DPA, Kra said: "I was questioned as a witness about my contacts in Ukraine, yes. I have provided the relevant information".
According to an investigation by "Spiegel" and Cet De Eff, the suspicions of US investigators were allegedly raised by a chat message in which a pro-Russian activist assured that a problem with "compensation" of "technical costs" of Kra has been decided.
From May onwards, "things will be as they were before February". The wording suggests that Kra may have been paid in secret over an unspecified period of time, the media release added. The authorities are currently investigating the case.
Kra stated that he never hid his contacts with the pro-Russian activist and indicated that this can be verified on his Instagram account.
"The allegations are ridiculous and fabricated," he said. "Spiegel" quotes Kra as saying he received no money, "no payments, no cash benefits, no other compensation of any kind" by the activist.
The activist may have wanted to give him money back for an opera ticket, the politician points out. Or, he suggested, the chat message talking about "compensation" may have been intended for another recipient.
Kra's name appeared in the public space and in connection with the pro-Russian Internet platform "Voice of Europe". (Voice of Europe, VoE).
In late March, the Czech Republic put VoE on its sanctions list after what it said was an intelligence investigation. The site is said to have been part of a Russian influence operation aimed at threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and freedom of Ukraine.
The portal has published interviews with a politician from AzG Petar Bistron and with Kra. The Czech newspaper "Denik N" reported that Bistron may have received money as well. The AzG parliamentarian has repeatedly denied this.
According to "Spiegel" Kra also denies receiving money from VoE.
The EP elections are scheduled for June 6 - 9.
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Apr 17, 2024 05:08 239