Formation of a criminal organization: The Regional Court of Potsdam sees the initial suspicion confirmed in the last generation. But what requirements must be met for such a classification?
Munich – Whether it's road blockades or art attacks in museums, the activists from the climate protection movement "Last Generation" have attracted a lot of attention with their actions in recent months. The actions caused controversial discussions. However, according to polls, a majority of society rejects the group's forms of protest.
Now the Potsdam District Court has announced that its State Security Chamber sees the climate activists as the initial suspicion of a criminal organization – the first district court ever in Germany, as the Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ) reported on Monday (May 15).
Cause controversial discussions: the actions of the climate glue. © IMAGO/JONAS GEHRING
"Last Generation" raids: Court confirms initial suspicion of the formation of a criminal organization
"After the Neuruppin District Court, this initial suspicion has now also been confirmed by the State Protection Chamber of the Potsdam Regional Court," Cyrill Klement, spokesman for the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office, told MOZ.
The investigations against the climate activists were triggered by attacks by the group on facilities at the PCK refinery. In mid-December 2022, the police and prosecutor's office carried out eleven nationwide raids on the homes and rooms of members of the "Last Generation". A climate activist then filed a complaint against the searches and the seizure of evidence. This has now been rejected as unfounded, according to the MOZ.
In order for a group to be classified as a criminal organization, certain conditions must be met:
- Association of more than two persons for an overriding common interest
- The purpose or activity is aimed at committing crimes
- Geared towards longer duration
- Roles among members are clearly distributed and membership is continuous
After the raid, the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office received several hundred self-reports from climate activists. These, too, would be examined, Klement said. A climate activist went one step further in her protest: she had herself sterilized for fear of the climate crisis. (hko
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