Jian Guon, an aide to German MEP Maximillian Krah (pictured) in the European Parliament, has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.

The arrest took place on Monday in the eastern city of Dresden.

It came just hours after the German authorities arrested three people in the west of the country on suspicion of leaking technological data used in maritime propulsion and exporting a high-powered laser to China.

It was not clear whether the two cases were linked.

Prosecutors said that the man, identified as Jian Guo, had worked for Krah since 2019.

Guo a German citizen, was also accused of spying on Chinese opposition groups in Germany, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

The Chinese government denied any involvement in the case.

Maximilian Krah, a lawmaker with the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party confirmed that the man arrested was one of his employees.

A spokesman for the Belgian prosecutor’s office, which would be responsible for any investigations at the aide’s workplace inside the European Parliament in Brussels, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesman for the European Parliament also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr. Krah, who has served in the European Parliament since 2019, has positioned himself on the right wing of the AfD.

He is considered to be the party’s top candidate in the European Parliament election in June.

The arrest of his aide was not the first time Mr. Krah’s name has come in contact with accused spies for foreign countries.

In March of this year, The New York Times published a report detailing accusations against one Janusz Niedzwiecki, a Polish citizen, for allegedly undertaking activities on behalf of Russian intelligence collaborators.

The report highlighted that Niedzwiecki had gained access to the European Parliament through Maximillian Krah.

Earlier this week EU Today reported that Krah had been questioned by the FBI during a visit to New York for a young Republicans gala in December 2023.

U.S. reportedly authorities detained Krah based on suspicions that he had received funds from Russia through Oleh Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian lawmaker known for his pro-Kremlin stance.

Main Image: Alexis HAULOT Copyright: © European Union 2023 – Source : EP

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Maximilian Krah MEP

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