Statement by the City of Jena on communications from Linksjugend Thüringen

The city of Jena sees the public announcements of the Left Youth of Thuringia regarding the planned Bundeswehr military training center as a problematic relativization and announcement of possible criminal acts.

Mayor Benjamin Koppe explains:

"The Bundeswehr has been part of our society for many years and has also been a reliable partner for the city of Jena. Especially during the pandemic, many people have experienced very concretely how naturally support was provided where the burden was particularly great. This included support for the university hospital, but also for care facilities and other sensitive areas. We still have respect and gratitude for this today."

At the same time, it is emphasized that political criticism and protest are of course covered by freedom of expression. This also applies to controversial discussions about compulsory military service, the Bundeswehr or federal security policy decisions.

However, it is also clear that anyone who publicly declares their intention to "make life difficult" for a state institution on a permanent basis and openly includes damage to property in this is announcing criminal acts and attempting to turn intimidation into a political method.

Benjamin Koppe explains further:

"What is completely unacceptable, however, are public statements announcing targeted disruptions, intimidation and damage to property against a state institution. Such forms of political extremism must be clearly warned against. This is because it deliberately creates a climate in which border crossings are prepared, legitimized and possibly also implemented in the end. True to the motto: From something like this comes something like this."

The city also points to the increasing dynamics of political radicalization in public spaces and on social networks. According to the city, it is becoming increasingly apparent how quickly verbal radicalization can turn into actual intimidation, damage to property and politically motivated aggression. For this reason, it must be clearly stated at an early stage where democratic debate ends and the threat of criminal acts begins.

Finally, the city of Jena has announced that it will press criminal charges:

"As a city, we will press criminal charges. The public prosecutor's office will then have to examine whether individual public statements fulfill the suspicion of disturbing the public peace by threatening criminal offences in accordance with Section 126 of the Criminal Code or public incitement to commit criminal offences in accordance with Section 111 of the Criminal Code," concludes Koppe.

Background: On Friday, 8 May 2026, the city of Jena published a press release announcing that the German Armed Forces had decided to open a military training center in Jena by summer 2027.