Prosecutors Seek Long Prison Terms in Lauterbach Kidnapping and Coup Plot Trial

German prosecutors allege the group planned to overthrow the government, kidnap the health minister, and reinstate a 19th-century constitution.

Prosecutors have requested prison sentences ranging from 3.5 to nearly 9 years for five defendants accused of plotting a coup and kidnapping German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.
The group, identified as the 'Vereinte Patrioten,' allegedly planned to cause a nationwide blackout, kidnap Lauterbach during a live TV appearance, and institute a new government based on the 1871 constitution.
Prosecutors described the group's ideology as rooted in conspiracy theories, antisemitism, and 'Reichsbürger' beliefs, which reject the legitimacy of the modern German state.
The defendants reportedly sought support from Russia, planning a trip to Kaliningrad to petition President Vladimir Putin for backing.
The trial, ongoing since May 2023, is expected to conclude next year, with the court's assessment of the plot's seriousness and the roles of each defendant determining sentencing.