The East German authorities are cracking down on the dissemination of hate propaganda by West Germany’s extreme right-wing Republican Party.
The state prosecution announced Sunday that Republican activist Hans-Rudolf Gutbrodt, 40, is under close surveillance because of his connection with the Munich-based party.
He is suspected of violating the law that prohibits preaching hatred of foreigners, incitement to racism and spreading “neo-fascist” propaganda.
He also has a long criminal record. The prosecutor’s office disclosed that Gutbrodt has five convictions as a child molester.
According to Dieter Plath of the prosecutor’s office, a search of Gutbrodt’s apartment yielded large quantities of outlawed political material, most of it put out by the Republicans.
Gutbrodt attended the recent Republican convention in Rosenheim, Bavaria.
He claimed afterward that the reputedly neo-Nazi party stands an excellent chance with East German voters in the May 6 parliamentary elections.
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