Prince Heinrich XIII is one of the last representatives of the Reuss dynasty, and he is considered one of the main planners of the coup, writes Reuters.
The 71-year-old was one of the arrested members and supporters of the far-right Reichsbürger group involved in plotting a coup in Germany.
Prince Heinrich XIII comes from the Reuss dynasty, which ruled the area of present-day Thuringia for several centuries until the revolution of 1918 and the subsequent establishment of the Weimar Republic. The prince is known for his radical views, including a penchant for anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and claims that the monarchy was a form of government that provided a better life for all.
Although officially there are no princes or princesses in Germany, some monarchs’ descendants have retained the title. Prince Heinrich also used the title in the name of his company: Buero Prinz Reuss.
Prince Heinrich XIII was arrested at his home in Frankfurt, and police also raided the prince’s hunting lodge in Thuringia. It was believed that weapons for a coup were being stockpiled there. The Thuringia region is well known as a place where far-right forces are widely supported.
The Prosecutor’s Office has not commented on these news, only stating that inspections have been carried out in the region. There was also no comment on the prince’s connection to the Reichsbürger group.
However, the prosecutor’s office said that Prince Heinrich had been in contact with Russian representatives, but said there was no evidence that the Russian side had responded to attempts at communication. The Kremlin announced that there can be no question of Russia’s possible participation in planning the coup.
The Reus family is currently headed by Austria-based Heinrich XIV, who has previously distanced himself from Heinrich XIII, calling him a deranged man who dabbles in conspiracy theories.
Read also: 25 arrested for planning a coup in Germany