A convicted German transgender right-wing extremist, who has been on the run for months, has been arrested in the Czech Republic.
Liebich was apprehended under a European arrest warrant in Krásná, approximately 100km (62 miles) east of Prague. In August 2025, Marla-Svenja Liebich, formerly referred to as Sven, failed to report to a prison in Chemnitz to serve an 18-month jail sentence.
Reports indicate that Liebich was affiliated with a neo-Nazi group called Blood and Honour. In July 2023, she was sentenced by the Halle District Court in Saxon-Anhalt to one year and six months in prison without parole for incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult. Liebich's appeal against this sentence was denied.
As of December 2024, Liebich had legally changed her gender from male to female and altered her name, a change facilitated by Germany's Self-Determination Act, which allows individuals to amend their gender marker and name with a simple declaration. However, there are ongoing debates regarding the sincerity of her transition.
German authorities have suggested that Liebich's transition was a strategic maneuver to avoid serving her sentence, with the Federal Interior Minister accusing her of misusing the legislation designed to protect transgender rights.
After her arrest, it was noted that Liebich had not adopted a typical feminine appearance, being seen in men's clothing and with a shaved head. Reports also indicate she attempted to evade capture during her arrest.
She is currently expected to be extradited to Germany.
