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House search in Berlin-Kreuzberg: "What's criminal about it?"

Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa

The climate protection group "Last Generation" has criticized the investigations into the "formation of criminal organizations" as excessive. Paragraph 129 is supposed to be used to protect public order, to thwart terrorism," said spokeswoman Aimée van Baalen. Now it is being used against us." By blocking the website and accounts, "legitimate protest is hindered," Baalen continued.

Section 129 of the Criminal Code criminalizes the "formation of criminal organizations." On Wednesday morning, the police searched 15 properties throughout Germany on this basis and confiscated funds. The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating seven defendants between the ages of 22 and 38.

Educating members and funding

The accused are accused of having organized a fundraising campaign to finance further crimes for the "Last Generation," the investigating authorities said. As a result, an amount of at least 1.4 million euros was collected. Two defendants are also suspected of attempting to sabotage the Trieste-Ingolstadt oil pipeline in April 2022. The aim of the searches is to clarify the membership structure and financing.

The »Last Generation«, on the other hand, pointed out its own transparency in its press conference. » We stand with our faces and names for our protest and announce what we intend to do," said spokeswoman Baalen. The entire work is public, the structure can be viewed on the website, as well as information on funding. "What's criminal about that?" the activist asked. Prosecutors from all over Germany have already made it clear "that they consider the accusation of a criminal organization to be completely absurd." They believe in the rule of law and are not afraid of a trial, Baalen continued. "We are afraid of the destruction of our rule of law by the consequences of the climate crisis."

Further protests announced – also in a new form?

Lawyers had come to different opinions as to whether the "Last Generation" could be a criminal organization. After a search warrant issued by the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office, the Potsdam Regional Court saw an initial suspicion that the "Last Generation" could be a criminal organization. Here, too, there had previously been a raid on a total of eleven locations in Germany. The public prosecutor's office in Berlin, on the other hand, had so far rejected such investigations. Berlin's new Senator for Justice, Felor Badenberg (independent), is having this question re-examined in her department.

The »Last Generation« called for further protests as long as »our livelihoods are constantly being destroyed«. A demonstration is planned for Wednesday in Berlin, followed by a demonstration in Munich and Leipzig. Further protests in other cities were to follow in the coming week. "The resistance groups are just bubbling up," Baalen said. The activist spoke of demonstrations in which the participants "simply walk peacefully slowly" across the street.

In recent weeks, there had been so-called slow marches in Great Britain. The aim is to obstruct traffic by running very slowly. Whether the "Last Generation" now wants to expand this form of protest in Germany was not completely clear from the statements. Journalists were not allowed to ask questions at the press conference.

Sep