Overview

• The Bundesgerichtshof dismissed Sören Pellmann’s revision, denying him €10,000 compensation from the right-wing Freie Sachsen for naming him in their protest call.
• The court held that the Telegram post allowed multiple interpretations of a “joint” protest and that telemedia channels benefit from a media privilege shielding them from such claims.
• In December 2023, the Leipzig regional court had awarded Pellmann damages, but the Dresden higher regional court overturned that ruling earlier this year.
• Pellmann warned that unchecked “querfront” tactics by extremist groups erode politicians’ personality rights and undermine tools to counter political instrumentalisation.
• He announced plans to review a constitutional complaint to challenge the BGH’s stance on defamation thresholds and the scope of media protections.