Overview
- The AfD Bundestag caucus confirmed it will finance a delegation to a BRICS-related conference in Sochi next week, calling the visit a way to keep channels to Russia open.
- Delegates include lawmakers Steffen Kotré and Rainer Rothfuß, Saxony party leader Jörg Urban, and MEP Hans Neuhoff, according to the reports.
- AfD deputy floor leader Markus Frohnmaier said there will be no meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, withdrawing approval after Rothfuß had indicated plans to join a discussion with him.
- Internal documents cited by Spiegel show travel budgets of €4,050 and €2,000 covered by the parliamentary group.
- CSU’s Martin Huber labeled the trip treason and a mouthpiece for Moscow, while CDU’s Roderich Kiesewetter called Russia a terror state and pressed for a review step toward a possible party-ban proceeding, with no formal legal action announced.