German MEP Petr Bystron, a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), had his immunity revoked by the European Parliament.
The Munich public prosecutor’s office had requested to investigate the German politician regarding the alleged use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations.
In July 2022, Bystron posted a photo collage with politicians holding up their right or left arm, pictured in such a way as to appear they were giving a Hitler salute. The post on what was then still known as Twitter, accompanied by the caption “Bye, bye […]! German politicians wave goodbye!,” followed the news that the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, would leave his office.
Bystron has also been facing another investigation by German authorities into bribery allegations related to payments from the sanctioned Russian-backed news network Voice of Europe. But that case has been on hold because of Bystron’s parliamentary immunity.
The vote to waive his immunity applies only to the case over his tweet, the European Parliament said.
A waiver for the bribery investigation has also been requested adding that “once a decision has been made by the European Parliament will the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office decide whether to reopen the investigation”. The next session of the Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs is set for 9 April, on which the issue might be discussed.
