# Petr Bystron

Petr Bystron was born in Olomouc in Czechoslovakia and moved to Germany with his parents in 1988, where they were granted asylum. He sat in the Bundestag for the AfD from 2017 and was a joint lead candidate with Maximilian Krah for the 2024 European election ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr_Bystron)). In March 2024 the [Czech government](/organizations/czech-government) sanctioned [Viktor Medvedchuk](/people/viktor-medvedchuk). It said he "runs a Russian influence operation" through Voice of Europe s.r.o. ([Czech MFA](https://mzv.gov.cz/jnp/en/issues_and_press/press_releases/the_czech_government_approves_listings.html)). Prosecutors accuse Bystron of taking money from the portal's operator and acting in Russia's interest as a Bundestag member. They also accuse him of tax evasion in at least five cases and fraud in at least six. The Bundestag lifted his immunity in June 2024 and the European Parliament on 6 May 2025. Bystron calls the accusations baseless ([tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/eu-parlament-immunitat-petr-bystron-afd-aufgehoben-100.html)). In 2026 he joined the AfD trip to the St Petersburg economic forum ([Handelsblatt](https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/wirtschaftsforum-russlandreise-der-afd-hat-parlamentarisches-nachspiel/100231761.html)). No court has ruled. Hypothesis (labeled): that Voice of Europe money bought pro-Kremlin advocacy in German and EU parliaments. It would be confirmed by a charge or a judgment in the Bavarian case.

### Questions people ask

#### What is Petr Bystron accused of?

He is accused of taking money from the operator of the pro-Russian portal Voice of Europe and acting in Russia's interest, plus tax evasion and fraud counts. He denies the accusations ([tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/eu-parlament-immunitat-petr-bystron-afd-aufgehoben-100.html)).

#### What is Voice of Europe?

It is a portal the Czech government says Viktor Medvedchuk used to run a Russian influence operation ([Czech MFA](https://mzv.gov.cz/jnp/en/issues_and_press/press_releases/the_czech_government_approves_listings.html)).

#### Did Bystron travel to Russia?

Yes. Handelsblatt reports he was among the AfD politicians at the 2026 St Petersburg economic forum ([Handelsblatt](https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/wirtschaftsforum-russlandreise-der-afd-hat-parlamentarisches-nachspiel/100231761.html)).

## Dated facts

_No published facts on this page yet._

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/people/petr-bystron