EGN NEWS DESK
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is snared in one other scandal after a nationwide lawmaker admitted to educating half time at a Kremlin-linked academy in Moscow.
Matthias Moosdorf, a 59-year-old cellist who sits within the Bundestag for the japanese state of Saxony and likewise serves because the AfD’s international coverage spokesperson, final week accepted a part-time honorary professor place at Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow.
The college, financed by Russia’s tradition ministry, made headlines simply days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when a workers member carried out a live performance carrying a black sweatshirt with the letter “Z” on it, which symbolizes help for Moscow’s battle.
The Moosdorf outcry exposes diverging positions inside the AfD on Russia, the place some prime officers have been crucial, whereas different pro-Russians supported the MP.
“Music is aware of no ideological boundaries,” Moosdorf wrote on Facebook, including that accepting the professorship is “an indication of understanding.”
“I need to give the younger individuals there [in Russia] the sensation that they aren’t left behind in Europe,” Moosdorf mentioned. He added that he spent three days in Moscow in September to offer an inaugural lecture and plans to return just a few days each quarter to show chamber music.
Moosdorf’s engagement with the college, nevertheless, has caught the eye of the AfD’s parliamentary group management, which mentioned the matter Monday.
“The Russians are among the many world leaders in relation to classical music … nevertheless, this additionally has a political part,” mentioned Bernd Baumann, a member of the parliamentary group’s committee, including {that a} professorship in Russia needs to be judged otherwise than “a professorship someplace overseas.”
“We see an issue right here and the discussions are heading in that path,” mentioned Baumann.
The workplace of party co-leader Alice Weidel informed POLITICO that no person was enthusiastic concerning the professorship.
According to info from German outlet t-media, the group banned Moosdorf from participating in two deliberate journeys: one to Japan and one other to Qatar, whereas advising him to surrender his professorship. An individual in AfD party circles who’s aware of the case confirmed that to POLITICO, after being granted anonymity to debate the topic.
But not everybody shares the management’s crucial place.
The AfD’s chief in Saxony, Jörg Urban, congratulated Moosdorf on his new job.
“I’m glad that our AfD has peace ambassadors such as you. Russia just isn’t our enemy. Russians are usually not our enemies. We want a standard relationship with Russia once more. And music is a ravishing bridge of friendship,” he wrote in a submit on Facebook.
German AfD MEP Arno Bausemer additionally expressed help for Moosdorf.
“Matthias Moosdorf is a worldwide recognized musician. As a member of [the] European Parliament in addition to a member of Germany AfD I’m very glad that there are politicians like Mr. Moosdorf who’ve a life beside their political actions and who share their cultural talents to help individuals in different nations. It is a lot better to ship music books to Russia than to ship weapons to Ukraine,” Bausemer wrote in an announcement shared with POLITICO.
The Russia-friendly party has been rocked by a number of scandals associated to Moscow (and Beijing), together with one the place a few of its prime members have been linked to the dissemination of pro-Russian propaganda.
Espionage and corruption allegations haven’t fatally damage the AfD, although. The party ended up second within the European Union election in Germany, then scored a historic win within the Thuringia state election.
Pauline von Pezold and Nette Nöstlinger contributed to this report.
