Stuttgart court may dismiss fraud case against protestor

A Stuttgart court judge has suggested dismissing a fraud case against Michael Ballweg, a protestor against coronavirus measures. The judge stated the case's significance is minimal, despite accusations that Ballweg misused over €576,000 in donations. Ballweg, founder of the Querdenken movement, began his trial on February 2. Prosecutors allege he deceived donors about the use of funds, while Ballweg denies any wrongdoing. He was previously detained in June 2022 but released in April 2023. The Querdenken movement gained traction during the pandemic, organizing protests against government measures. These protests sometimes led to violence against police and journalists.