AfD politician Matthias Moosdorf accepts honorary professorship in Russia

The foreign policy spokesperson for the AfD parliamentary group, Matthias Moosdorf, has had a part-time job as an honorary professor in Russia since September. Moosdorf confirmed a corresponding report by the news portal "T-Online", according to which he teaches at the internationally renowned Moscow Gnessin Academy of Music. The cellist wrote in a statement: He has repeatedly held guest professorships in his career as a musician. The honorary professorship at the Gnessin Academy reflects and honors his work as a globally active chamber musician.

Moosdorf calls professorship a sign of understanding

He added: "The acceptance of the honorary professorship is above all to be seen as a sign of understanding. I want to give the young people there the feeling that they are not left behind in Europe. Music knows no ideological boundaries." Moosdorf, who sits in the Bundestag for the Saxon AfD, said he spent three days "privately in Moscow" in September. He "taught pro bono in a kind of inaugural lecture" - pro bono is usually translated as free of charge. "I intend to spend several days there once a quarter teaching chamber music to ensembles. There have been no talks about contracts so far."

"T-Online" quotes the 59-year-old as saying that the terms of the contract would be based on standard international fees. The academy is financed by the Russian Ministry of Culture. Moosdorf's statement reads: "I cannot recognize a political orientation of the Gnessin Academy. Nor am I interested in it. My work is exclusively dedicated to music as a global language of reconciliation and understanding."

Greens parliamentary group vice-chairman sharply critical

The deputy parliamentary group leader of the Greens and chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee, Konstantin von Notz, sharply criticized Moosdorf's employment: "Once again it becomes clear how close the wires are between Moscow and the AfD," he told T-Online. "Only the AfD itself knows how to credibly make policy as a foreign policy spokesperson while being financed by dictatorships through honorary professorships."