Link to German prosecutors have charged far-right lawmaker Matthias Moosdorf with performing an illegal Nazi salute at the parliament building — a criminal offense in Germany with deep historical sensitivities.German prosecutors have charged far-right lawmaker Matthias Moosdorf with performing an illegal Nazi salute at the parliament building — a criminal offense in Germany with deep historical sensitivities.
A member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has been officially charged with making a Nazi salute at the Reichstag, Berlin prosecutors confirmed on Monday, in a case that has reignited concern over extremism within the country’s political institutions.
According to prosecutors, the incident took place in June 2023, when the accused allegedly greeted a party colleague near the east entrance of the German parliament building with a "heel click and a Hitler salute" — a gesture explicitly outlawed in Germany under laws banning Nazi symbols and expressions. Violations can carry a sentence of up to three years in prison.
While authorities did not initially release the suspect’s name, Bild newspaper identified him as Matthias Moosdorf, a 60-year-old AfD member of parliament representing Zwickau, a district in the eastern state of Saxony, part of the former East Germany.
“The accused is said to have been aware that the greeting … was visible to others in the entrance area,” read the official statement from prosecutors, emphasizing the public nature of the alleged gesture.
Moosdorf’s parliamentary immunity was lifted in October in response to the investigation. On Monday, he denied the allegation in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, rejecting claims that he made the prohibited salute.
Moosdorf has been affiliated with the AfD since 2016 and previously served as the party's foreign policy spokesperson in parliament. However, his tenure in that role ended in May 2025, reportedly due to internal disagreements over his pro-Russia stance — a position that has drawn criticism within his own party ranks.
The scandal deepened last year when it was revealed that Moosdorf, who is also a trained cellist, held an honorary professorship at a Moscow music academy, further fueling suspicions over his political allegiances amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The AfD, which is under increasing scrutiny for extremist rhetoric and connections, has made significant gains in recent regional elections, especially in the former East. But this latest controversy may further damage its attempts to normalize its image in the run-up to Germany’s 2026 federal elections.
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