Left-wing lawyer 'worked for Stasi'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BONN (Reuter) - A left-wing lawyer renowned for defending a German guerrilla gang in the 1970s has been charged with spying for former East Germany, prosecutors said yesterday.
A statement from the Federal Prosecutor, Alexander von Stahl, said Klaus Croissant, 61, was charged with spying on the Greens party and other left-wingers in West Germany and the European Parliament from 1981 to 1989.
Mr Croissant is said to have enlisted his girlfriend as an informer for East Germany's Ministry of State Security, the Stasi, which acted as an espionage agency abroad and security police at home. In the 1970s, Mr Croissant defended Ulrike Meinhof and other leaders of the Baader- Meinhof guerrilla gang, which later became known as the Red Army Faction (RAF).
After fleeing to Paris in 1977 to escape investigation, he was extradited to West Germany and sentenced to more than two years in prison for supporting terrorism. Mr Croissant has remained in jail since being arrested in September, Mr Stahl said. Charges were brought in court last month but only announced now.
The Stasi is alleged to have led Mr Croissant under the codename 'Thaler' and his partner, Brigitte Heinrich, a Greens MEP as 'Beate Schaefer'.
After Heinrich's death, Mr Croissant is said to have remained at the parliament as a Greens assistant. He is alleged to have been paid DM71,000 ( pounds 29,500) by the Stasi for his spying. Links between the Stasi and RAF guerrillas came to light after the collapse of East Germany in 1989.
As Germany prepared to unite, police found 10 former RAF guerrillas who had retired to East Germany under Stasi protection to lead ordinary lives under new identities.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments