He wrote down what Jörg S. wanted to say in advance and printed it out on several pages. “I stand there, everyone sees me,” says the alleged ringleader the “Saxon Separatists”as he walks to a lectern in the middle of the courtroom at lunchtime Monday. The 24-year-old is the first defendant to enter the proceedings before the Dresden Higher Regional Court. “My attitude is right-wing and I’m national,” S. begins after briefly clearing his throat. But contrary to what the indictment claims, he is completely innocent.
The federal prosecutor’s office accuses him and the other seven co-defendants of being members of a terrorist organization. They had prepared a “treasonous operation” against the Federal Republic, carried out paramilitary exercises and prepared for ethnic cleansing of areas in East Germany. Racism and anti-Semitism were driving forces for the approximately 20 members. Among other things, they took part in urban warfare training.
On this Monday, the second day of the trial in Dresden, Jörg S. explained that he had been interested in military affairs from an early age. He also prepared himself with survival training for a disaster “of whatever kind.” But that had no political component, says S. and clears his throat again. It is true that he had sympathies for the neo-Nazi party Free Saxony and had played with militant, racist theories in his mind. But he does not believe that a civil war is imminent or that a revolution is possible in Germany.
Jörg S. was sure that he had always acted legally. He moved to Poland with his girlfriend looking for a job. “I was happy to finally be able to leave Germany,” explains S.
Non-political urban warfare
The urban warfare training was offered to him via chat. Unknowingly, he had written to a suspected FBI agent who later informed the German authorities. The training fit Jörg S.’s professional plans in the security sector, which is why he agreed. Because it was “more fun” with more people, he wrote to the members of the “survival group” asking if they wanted to take part. But it wasn’t about terror. Certainly not for Germany, says right-wing nationalist Jörg S. “I don’t want to have anything to do with Germany.”
While Jörg S. goes back to his seat, the defenders tap rhythmically on their tables. 19 lawyers represent the eight accused, one is defended by five, the others by two. On the first day of the trial, last Friday, the defense lawyers requested that the public be excluded from the trial. Now it seems important to them themselves.
“They have to be afraid”
Even before Jörg S.’s statement, seven defense lawyers came to the podium one after the other on Monday morning. The microphone cracked, then a sharp sound went off. The investigations were exaggerated, contacts between the defendants were constructed, terms were translated incorrectly or were far-fetched. Individual clients only found out about the name “Saxon Separatists” from the media. Hiking, cheeky chat groups, that’s all there was to it. It is said that the Federal Prosecutor General’s Office is exceeding legal limits for political reasons.
Dubravko Mandic does this specifically. The lawyer and four colleagues represent the AfD politician Kurt Hättasch. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is trying to use trials to suppress the “German opposition”. to associate the AfD with violence. “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Mandic accused the federal prosecutor. He received applause from the audience. “Yes,” a woman called out. When the federal prosecutor’s office asked the court to identify the heckler, Mandic scoffed: A yes vote was not a criminal offense.
At a press conference last Friday, Mandic made it clear why he is pursuing this confrontational strategy. He believes the judges are tasked with convicting the defendants. Mandic only sees one chance to stop them: “Basically, they have to be afraid that they themselves will be persecuted.” At another point in time, for example when the AfD is in power, the process would be assessed “legally differently”.
As of press time on Monday, the trial day was not yet over. There are still 66 more days of trial planned.