Dessau-Roßlau prosecutors end election fraud probe

The Dessau-Roßlau Public Prosecutor's Office has terminated an investigation into suspected election fraud and violations of postal secrecy at a local senior residence. The probe was initiated following a criminal complaint alleging that postal voting documents for a 95-year-old resident with severe dementia had been manipulated, opened, or destroyed.

Investigators found no evidence to support these claims. Authorities stated that the resident's health condition did not match the descriptions provided in the complaint. Furthermore, an examination of 18 other residents who utilized postal voting revealed no suspicious activity. Checks conducted by the local election office also confirmed that no voting envelopes had been prematurely opened or tampered with.

The allegations had gained political traction prior to the state election, with AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund labeling the situation a “skandal.” In response, Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour accused the AfD of using the accusations to undermine the integrity of the electoral system.