German federal authorities prepare to cut Saxony-Anhalt off from secret Russia intelligence after AfD win

Federal officials in Berlin are planning to restrict Saxony-Anhalt's access to classified intelligence after the Alternative for Germany party took 43.8% of the vote in state elections and began negotiating to form a government, the New York Times reported, citing 17 German and foreign officials.

The restriction would cover information about Russia and Russian operations in Europe, as well as materials about the AfD itself. The party has been classified as right-wing extremist at the federal level and is under intelligence surveillance, including undercover agents. Berlin fears AfD access to intelligence files could expose those agents' identities.

Germany's allies, including Poland and several Scandinavian countries, have told Berlin they will not share sensitive Russia-related intelligence if it could reach Moscow through an AfD-led state government.

Each of Germany's 16 states currently holds access to a 1,000-page military contingency plan, developed in 2024 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for a possible Russian attack in Eastern Europe.

AfD representative York Herrmann called the planned restrictions "completely undemocratic" and said the party may challenge them in court.