German far-left activist jailed for refusing to testify in extremism trial
A German court has ordered coercive detention for Jannis R. after he refused to testify in a follow-up trial linked to far-left extremist activities. The case involves raids on neo-Nazi demonstrators and an attack on a bar in Eisenach. R. was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, revealing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Free all Antifas' as he left. Jannis R. was originally convicted in May 2023 for supporting a criminal organisation. The court sentenced him to two years and five months in prison. His conviction became final in March 2025 after the Federal Court of Justice upheld the ruling.
In the first trial, R. was found guilty of participating in the Wurzen incident but acquitted over the Eisenach attack due to lack of evidence. He was later called to testify in a new trial about raids on neo-Nazi demonstrators and an assault on the *Bull's Eye* bar in Eisenach. The court allowed R. a partial right to refuse testimony—only regarding the Eisenach raid. However, he claimed full immunity and refused to speak at all. His defence argued that testifying could expose him to further legal risks, but prosecutors dismissed this as unfounded speculation. As a result, the judge revoked his open-prison privileges and ordered coercive detention. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has since classified the Lina E. Group, linked to R., as a far-left extremist criminal organisation.
R. now faces immediate custody after his refusal to cooperate. The trial continues without his testimony, while authorities maintain their classification of the Lina E. Group as extremist. His case remains tied to broader investigations into far-left militant activities across Germany.
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