AfD Leader Critiques Party’s Planned Russia Trip Amid Controversies

BERLIN – Alice Weidel, co-chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticized party colleagues on Nov. 11 for agreeing to a trip to Russia, amid mounting allegations of espionage against the far-right party.

Several AfD politicians are scheduled to visit Sochi, a Russian resort on the Black Sea, which has sparked controversy due to the strained relations between Germany and Russia. Weidel expressed her confusion about the purpose of the trip, stating, “I cannot understand what they are actually supposed to do there, to put it bluntly,” during a press briefing.

This week, lawmakers from various German political parties raised concerns during parliamentary debates about the upcoming Sochi visit, highlighting the AfD’s close ties with Russia. Reports indicated that a meeting with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, known for his support of Russia’s actions against Ukraine, was planned but subsequently banned by AfD leadership.

Weidel has been striving to elevate the AfD’s role in German politics, and while she defended the party’s approach towards Russia, she acknowledged the benefits of the Sochi visit were minimal. “There is a great deal of dissatisfaction, precisely because these trips serve no purpose whatsoever,” she said.

Within the party, MP Rainer Rothfuss was dissuaded from attending the trip, while Steffen Kotre remains committed to going. In response to the backlash, Weidel promised to overhaul the approval process for foreign trips by party members, introducing strict guidelines and penalties for non-compliance, including expulsion.

Weidel emphasized the need for clearer procedures, stating, “The process must be clearly structured, because things cannot continue like this in the future.”