Germany’s defence minister blocks AfD access to classified data over Russia links, tightening information security around far‑right parties

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the AfD will not be granted access to classified information because of the party’s close ties to Russia. The restriction protects sensitive defence data but raises questions about party‑state relations, foreign influence, and potential legal disputes over information access rights. Boris Pistorius (German Defence Minister),AfD leadership (Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla),German federal government,Russian state AfD may file a complaint or seek parliamentary review of the decision,Oversight committees could examine the criteria for granting classified access,The issue may feature in election debates and affect defence‑policy discussions. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius justified the refusal by citing the AfD’s proximity to Russia, a move that underscores growing concerns about foreign influence on German political parties. The decision comes amid the AfD’s party congress in Erfurt, where internal leadership contests and large‑scale protests highlighted the party’s rising prominence. While the measure aims to safeguard sensitive military information, it also risks deepening political polarisation and could trigger legal challenges from the AfD regarding access to state secrets.

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