On May 13, the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, published a post regarding the decision of the German government to ban the extremist organization “Kingdom of Germany” (Königreich Deutschland). Papuashvili writes that the decision to ban the largest group of the “Reichsbürger” (Citizens of the Reich) movement was made for the following reasons: they “do not recognize the legitimacy of Germany’s elected government,” “create parallel governmental structures,” “boycott government decisions,” “interfere with police activities,” and “claim that Germany is governed by an occupying power.”
The Speaker of Parliament compares this to the actions of groups funded by the German government in Georgia and tries to emphasize that the kind of activities for which Germany allocates funds in Georgia are the very reasons it bans such groups within its own country.
Media outlets disseminated the Parliament Speaker’s Facebook post without providing additional context or information about the movement. These outlets include Imedi (1;2); POSTV; Interpressnews (1;2); Guria Times; online media Georgian Thought; SPNEWS; Reportiori; Ajara Public Broadcaster; Ambebi.ge, For.ge, and Ipress.ge.
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Why was the extremist movement banned in Germany?
The movement that the Speaker of Parliament compares to German-funded organizations in Georgia was banned on May 13. The “Kingdom of Germany” is one of the largest organizations within the far-right extremist movement known as the so-called “Reichsbürger.” After raids on offices and members’ homes, its founder, Peter Fitzek, was arrested by law enforcement. Three others, allegedly leaders, were also detained.
Peter Fitzek, a former chef and karate instructor, founded the group in 2012 and led the “kingdom” with the self-declared title of monarch or “king.” In 2012, he had himself crowned as king, dressed in royal robes and brandishing a medieval sword. Fitzek calls himself Peter I. In his post, Papuashvili writes that the reason for the ban was the group’s rejection of Germany’s elected government. However, the organization’s members deny the legitimacy not only of the current authorities but also of the modern German Federal Republic established after World War II. Members claim that the German Reich continues to exist, that German democracy is an illegitimate façade, and that they are citizens of a monarchist state.
As part of their rejection of legitimacy, some members refused to comply with the requirements of state authorities – for example, refusing to pay taxes and fines. They also issued their own alternative passports and driver’s licenses. The “Reichsbürger” have their own currency and flag and have aspired to create separate banking and healthcare systems.
German state authorities have drawn increased attention to the extremist group after concerns grew in recent years about its potential for violence. In 2016, a member of the “Reichsbürger” shot and killed a police officer during a raid on his home. Notably, in 2022, a plot to overthrow the German government was uncovered. According to reports, the plotters planned to storm the parliament and arrest politicians before establishing a temporary government. In relation to this attempted coup, 27 people were arrested, and 380 firearms were confiscated.
According to Germany’s Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, members of the group were trying to create a “counter-state.” According to the data from the domestic intelligence agency, the “Reichsbürger” movement has about 25,000 members. About 6,000 people are supporters of the “Kingdom of Germany.”
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament compared this group to organizations funded by the German government in Georgia, while the media that published his post did not provide any additional information about the “Reichsbürger” movement. As a result, readers of those articles are not informed about why the extremist group was banned or how its activities posed a threat to democracy.
