The Russia connectionAfD Bunestag member under Russian influence: Report

Markus Frohnmaier, an MP for the far-right, populist AfD party, could be controlled by Russia, several European media outlets have reported.

Frohnmaier has publicly sided with Moscow on practically each and every issue important to Vladimir Putin.

The investigative report – the result of a joint effort by several leading European news organizations – concluded that Frohnmaier “stands under the influence of Moscow” and that his political and legislative actions aim to further Russia’s strategic interests.

The Local reports that the investigative report was put together by the German magazine Der Spiegel, the German TV channel ZDF, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, and British broadcaster BBC. It comes amid growing indications that Russia is working to undermine stability in the European Union by supporting nationalist and populist parties.

The four media outlets investigated Russian documents outlining strategies for destabilizing EU states and spreading pro-Moscow propaganda. The papers were sent to a high-ranking aide in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration in April 2017.

The documents show that Putin’s close allies believed Frohnmaier would actively support Russian interests in his political activities.

One analysis contained in a document called for Moscow to support Frohnmaier, saying that if he were elected, Russia would have its “own absolutely controlled MP in the Bundestag.”

Most of the documents were obtained by the Dossier Center, an organization funded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oligarch and outspoken critic of Putin.

Another document, this time obtained by the BBC from a source independent of the Dossier Center and seen by Der Spiegel and the ZDF, called for concrete assistance with Frohnmaier’s campaign.

The document said that he would focus on topics including “good relations with the Russian Federation: sanctions, EU interference in Russian domestic politics.”

Frohnmaier told the BBC he was not aware of the documents. A statement from his lawyers also denied any outside influence on him, saying “Our client emphasizes that he was never under the control of any third party.”

Frohnmaier was elected to the German parliament in September 2017’s general election, when his far-right, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 12.6 percent of the vote, finishing third overall.