German Politician Allegedly Employs Political Prisoners on Belarusian Farm

 

Nikolai*, a political prisoner in Belarus, recalls an unexpected visit during his work sorting onions at a plantation owned by Jörg Dornau, a far-right German politician. Dornau, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, allegedly employs political prisoners on his Belarusian farm.

In February 2024, Dornau visited the plantation, which reportedly employs around 30 detainees like Nikolai, who had been jailed for minor political dissent. These prisoners, including Nikolai, were paid about £4 per day for sorting onions, work that Nikolai described as preferable to being in jail. He stated, "It felt like complete freedom compared to being locked up."

Dornau, a farmer and politician in Saxony’s state parliament, was fined €20,862 earlier this year for failing to declare non-parliamentary income from his Belarusian business. However, recent allegations claim that Dornau knowingly employed political prisoners, raising serious ethical concerns. According to reports from Belarusian outlet Reform.news, Dornau made a deal with a prison in Lida, Belarus, to employ detainees held for political reasons.

The indictment against Dornau focuses on his company, Zybulka-Bel Ltd, which was founded in October 2020 amid widespread pro-democracy protests in Belarus. The Lukashenko regime, supported by Russia, has cracked down on dissent since then, with over 1,400 political prisoners currently held in Belarus.

Despite the allegations, Dornau has not responded to inquiries. A spokesperson for the AfD parliamentary group in Saxony stated that the party does not comment on anonymous accusations. However, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, a prominent AfD figure, defended Dornau, dismissing the accusations as a "smear campaign" and asserting that such work arrangements are not unusual in Germany or Belarus.

Meanwhile, a lawyer associated with the German Green Party has filed a criminal complaint against Dornau, stating that if the allegations are proven, it constitutes exploitation of vulnerable people.

Dornau’s farm continues to operate, producing a variety of crops including onions, melons, and tubers. However, the legal and moral repercussions of these new revelations are yet to unfold.

(Nikolai’s real name has been withheld for privacy reasons.)