Sven Hüber, deputy chairman of the Police Union, has stepped down following allegations related to his past as a DDR border officer, citing media accusations and legal disputes.

Sven Hüber, the deputy chairman of the Police Union, announced his immediate resignation on Wednesday following renewed accusations tied to his time as a border officer in East Germany’s DDR regime. In his public statement, Hüber rejected what he described as ‘slanderous and defamatory allegations’ about his actions during the 1980s, when he served in the DDR’s border forces. He emphasized that these claims, which are now being legally scrutinized, threaten to divert attention from the union’s mission.

The accusations resurfaced after a right-leaning publication alleged that Hüber had been involved in the mistreatment of a would-be defecting citizen during the Cold War era. The claims also suggested Hüber had enforced the controversial ‘shoot-to-kill’ directive at the border, reportedly urging soldiers to eliminate those attempting to flee. Hüber firmly denied these allegations and highlighted his prior legal efforts to prevent the use of his name in connection with such claims, particularly in reference to the tragic death of Chris Gueffroy, the last victim of the DDR border regime.

The timing of the controversy coincides with Hüber’s recent article in the union’s magazine, where he criticized the far-right AfD party and called on police officers to resist any potential AfD-led state government, citing their oath to uphold democratic values. His stance sparked backlash from several state police union chapters, who argued that his comments misinterpreted the role of police officers’ oath in relation to political neutrality and individual voting rights. These criticisms further heightened tensions around his leadership, culminating in his decision to step down.