Berlin, Feb 25, (dpa/GNA) – German federal police are working to prevent right-wing extremists from travelling to join the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to a document seen by dpa.
Security agencies suspect that the vast majority of German radicals are allied with Russia, the government in Berlin said in a request for information from hard-left party Die Linke.
One exception, however, is the neo-Nazi fringe party Der III Weg (The III Path), which sympathizes with Ukrainian nationalists.
“With regards to the suspected participation of German right-wing extremists in combat operations of extreme-right paramilitary units, the federal government currently has no verified intelligence that right-wing extremists have in fact travelled to Ukraine or Russia at this present time in order to actively take part in combat operations in those areas,” the government said in its written response.
The German Interior Ministry elaborated that “due to the current conflict, the focus of federal police directorates has been sharpened towards possible travel movements of right-wing extremist persons.
“In suspicious cases, intensive control measures are to be taken and departures will be denied if legal requirements are met.”
Martina Renner, a German lawmaker who requested the information on behalf of Die Linke, said that good connections between German neo-Nazis with Ukraine and Russia meant their involvement in the fighting could not be ruled out.
“I call on the security authorities to follow up on the indications and act accordingly,” Renner said.
GNA