German lawmakers on Wednesday accused the far-right AfD of harbouring a Russian "sleeper cell", in the latest claim that the party is spying for Moscow, prompting a denial in parliament.
The AfD has faced accusations since October of using parliamentary questions to collect sensitive details on critical infrastructure, security and military matters, particularly in the eastern state of Thuringia.
Marc Henrichmann, a lawmaker for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU, on Wednesday said the questions had covered arms deliveries to Ukraine, power stations, drone production and army bases.
"At the very least, they have a sleeper cell loyal to Russia in their ranks," he said. "How lucky for Vladimir Putin that the AfD exists in Germany."
AfD politicians rejected the accusations as "embarrassing" and "malicious" but did not offer justifications for the enquiries.
The AfD's Markus Frohnmaier accused the government of trying to distract from Germany's problems and grasping for new ways to tarnish the AfD's reputation.
During the debate, Henrichmann said that a Kremlin strategy paper had described Frohnmaier as "under complete control".
The anti-EU, anti-migration AfD has seen its fortunes rise dramatically in the past year, surging to second place in February's national election.
"Now that the 'Nazi' card no longer works, the CDU has decided to spend the next four years talking only about Russia and the AfD," Frohnmaier said.
Another AfD lawmaker, Stefan Keuter, noted that the government had given public written answers to the party's enquiries.
"Do you believe that the government would publish state secrets just because the AfD asks for them? No way," he said.
Lawmakers from other political parties also pointed to the AfD's Russia-friendly stances and opposition to German military aid to Ukraine.
Sonja Eichwede, of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), charged that the AfD functions "as a stooge for Russian interests" in parliament.
