Two Men Accused of Using Threats and Organized Tactics to Pressure Authorities; Prosecutors Seek Multi-Year Prison Terms
Prosecution Demands Prison Sentences for 'Reichsbürger' Group Leaders - Thuringia duo faces prison for years-long intimidation of authorities
Prosecutors are demanding lengthy prison sentences for two alleged ringleaders of a so-called Reichsbürger group, accusing them of orchestrating a years-long campaign of intimidation against Thuringian authorities. The state attorney's office has called for a total sentence of five years and seven months for a 55-year-old defendant, charging him with founding a criminal organization, as well as multiple counts of attempted coercion and extortion. A 53-year-old co-defendant faces a requested sentence of four years and five months.
Since the trial began in March of last year, prosecutors have alleged that the two men flooded Thuringia's public agencies with waves of threatening and extortionate letters over several years, systematically harassing civil servants. According to the indictment, their professionalized approach was designed to evade state financial obligations.
Beyond the sheer scale of their offenses, prosecutors emphasized the political motivation behind the crimes as an aggravating factor, arguing that the defendants sought to undermine the rule of law. The Reichsbürger movement rejects the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic institutions.
The group reportedly emerged in late 2020 from the personal and financial circles of the 55-year-old—an indebted farmer and precious metals dealer. Investigators describe the organization as operating with criminal business practices and a highly structured administrative system. In letters sent to authorities and courts—particularly the tax office—they allegedly made coercive demands for data disclosure, payments, and other actions, while also pressuring officials to provide proof of citizenship. The goal, prosecutors claim, was the systematic intimidation of creditors and government employees.
A verdict is expected in early March.
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