German court classifies “Last Generation” as a criminal organization. How long does it actually take to get to Budapest by train? Or to Madrid? Guess!

In a legally binding ruling, the Munich I Regional Court has classified the climate protection group “Last Generation” as a criminal organization. The association’s purpose and activities were aimed at committing crimes, the court’s State Protection Chamber decided in a decision published on Thursday.

In justification, the court referred, among other things, to blockades of roads and airports by climate activists of the “last generation”. With the decision, the court dismissed ten complaints from climate activists against searches and seizures that had been approved as unfounded by the Munich court. They have no further legal remedies.

The regional court ruled that the ‘Last Generation’ met the requirements of an association because, according to previous studies, it represented a long-standing association.

Significant threat to public safety

In order to be able to assess that the purpose of the association is to commit crimes, it is not a requirement that this must be the main purpose in order to be classified as a criminal organization. It is sufficient if committing crimes is one of possibly several purposes.

In the specific case of the “Last Generation,” this included coercing road users, especially by detaining them and damaging property, as the group’s main purposes. According to the court, these actions also pose a significant threat to public safety.

Search warrants were legal

Regarding the disruption and blocking of the activities of several airports and joint actions to interrupt the flow of several oil pipelines, the court ruled that the crimes could also not be considered insignificant. That’s why search warrants are legal.

The court emphasized that social discourse is violated by unlawful means when a group attempts to place itself above the rule of law and democratic processes – possibly in a morally superior manner. The court emphasized that crimes are not a means of free, democratic, constitutional discussion, but rather an expression of criminal energy and as such must be assessed soberly from a legal perspective.

Investigations against members of the “Last Generation”

The decision was taken in connection with an investigation by the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office against numerous members of the “Last Generation”. In these proceedings they are accused, among other things, of forming a criminal organization.

The Munich District Court issued several search and seizure warrants in May. The regional court has now confirmed the requirements for issuing search warrants.

(t-online/afp)