Munich prosecutors have filed charges against two prominent figures within the climate activist group Last Generation – now rebranded as Novel Generation – alleging they formed a criminal organization, according to a statement released to the taz newspaper on Wednesday.
Melanie Guttmann, a trained IT project manager, and Lea Bonasera, a protest researcher, are accused under Paragraph 129 of the German Criminal Code, which deals with the formation of criminal associations. A conviction could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison or a fine.
The charges represent a significant escalation in the legal pressure facing the group, known for its disruptive protests including road blockades and vandalism of public property with orange paint. This is the fourth such indictment against members of the organization, with additional cases pending in Flensburg and Potsdam, and a trial already underway following an indictment in Potsdam.
Bonasera, speaking to the taz, described the charges as politically motivated, stating, “We protested peacefully for climate protection. That should not be criminalized.” She confirmed she had previously been fined for obstructing traffic during demonstrations in Munich.
The prosecution’s case rests on the argument that New Generation, founded in December 2021 by Guttmann, Bonasera, and Henning Jeschke, operates with a structured intent to commit crimes. According to Joschka Sellinger, a lawyer with the Society for Civil Rights, Paragraph 129 is intended to target organized crime, allowing authorities to investigate groups building structures that require early intervention, even extending to scrutiny of financial donations.
Sellinger cautioned that applying the law to political protest is problematic, arguing that such actions are protected under Germany’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly, expression, and the press. He noted that the Society for Civil Rights, along with Reporter Without Borders and the Bavarian Journalists’ Association, has filed a constitutional complaint alleging that the application of Paragraph 129 led to the surveillance of journalists who had contact with the group’s press office.
Bonasera expressed concern that the charges would intimidate others from participating in protests, calling it “an attack on democracy.” Sellinger echoed this sentiment, highlighting the extensive legal ramifications for those accused, including potential surveillance, home searches, and lengthy court proceedings.
He further questioned whether the group’s actions genuinely pose a threat to public safety, arguing that while New Generation intentionally breaks the law, it still acknowledges the legitimacy of the legal system. “What danger has arisen from the actions of the Last Generation?” he asked.
The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
