Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Tino Chrupalla said he does not view Russia under President Vladimir Putin as a danger to Germany, Politico reported on Tuesday.
“Putin hasn’t done anything to me. I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment,” Chrupalla said on German public television, according to Politico.
Chrupalla argued that any country could pose a potential risk to Germany, pointing to Poland’s refusal to extradite a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. “Poland can also be a threat to us,” he said.
Growing concern over Russian influence
As Politico noted, Chrupalla’s comments align with Kremlin talking points at a time when centrist German politicians are warning that the AfD is acting as a vehicle for Russian interests inside Germany. The AfD denies these claims.
Marc Henrichmann, chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee and a member of the conservative CDU, told Handelsblatt that Russia “is exerting its influence in parliament, especially in the AfD,” to obtain sensitive information. He accused the AfD of “allowing itself to be used for this betrayal by Putin,” as quoted by Politico.
Chrupalla dismissed the accusations, insisting that the AfD represents only German interests.
Source: Politico