Following the Federal Ministry of the Interior's ban on a group of so-called "Reichsbürger" and self-administrators who call themselves the "Kingdom of Germany", the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) of Saxony has been searching several properties in the Free State since Tuesday morning. Residential and business premises in the districts of Central Saxony, Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains, Dresden and Leipzig are affected, the LKA announced.
The measures are being carried out on behalf of the Saxony State Directorate, which is responsible as the enforcement authority for associations. The aim is to secure assets belonging to the banned organization and seize evidence of its anti-constitutional activities. The LKA is being supported by the riot police and federal police.
Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) had recently banned the group of so-called Reich citizens and self-administrators, which calls itself "Kingdom of Germany". The ban prohibits any further activity by the association - violations are considered criminal offences.
Who are the "Reichsbürger"?
"Reichsbürger" do not recognize the Federal Republic of Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists today. So-called Reich citizens do not recognize democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They do not want to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. The scene consists of many, mostly smaller groups. Some "Reich Citizens" see themselves as the heads of state of their own little kingdom.
According to the security authorities, the "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by Peter Fitzek in Wittenberg in 2012 and is currently the association with the largest number of members in the spectrum of so-called "Reich Citizens" and self-administrators. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution estimated that the scene had around 25,000 followers in 2023.
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