Convicted neo-Nazi on the run after allegedly changing gender to serve time in women’s prison

A convicted neo-Nazi who reinvented herself as a transgender woman and was due to begin a prison sentence is now on the run, sparking international attention.

Marla Svenja Liebich, 50, — formerly known as Sven Liebich — failed to report to the Chemnitz women’s prison in Germany last Friday to begin a sentence of one year and six months for incitement of hatred, slander, and insult.

She initially announced she would start her sentence on time, livestreaming her move in.

“I will begin my prison sentence as scheduled. On 29 August 2025 at 10pm, I will arrive at Chemnitz Prison with my suitcases,” Liebich’s social media said on August 20.

Her controversial admission to the women’s prison in line with her new gender identity followed several court hearings.

Initially, the authorities had planned to place Loebich in a men’s facility, but the legal gender update forced them to change their decision.

With the legal status now of a woman, she was due to serve her time in a women’s prison.

Critics called it a legal loophole, noting that Liebich had previously mocked gender diversity and “woke” policies.

Now, authorities are scrambling to locate her, amid growing speculation she may have fled to Russia or even be seeking asylum in the United States.

This was revealed in an audio recording played outside the women’s prison, which the police confirmed sounded like Liebich.

German prosecutors confirmed a national arrest warrant has now been issued.

‘From Russia with love’

The public prosecutor’s office said they already had indications the convicted right-wing extremist would not begin her prison sentence.

“We have recognised that it is doubtful Liebich would surrender,” Senior prosecutor Dennis Cernota said, adding pre-emptive measures had been launched before the official deadline to begin the sentence.

However, Liebich managed to evade the authorities. raising questions about the law enforcement.

“Various security and law enforcement agencies have been investigating Liebich for years and have repeatedly been fooled in the process,” Henriette Quade, a member of the state parliament and the interior committee, said.

“It is simply incomprehensible how all these agencies failed to realise that Liebich would evade arrest.”

Liebich has been active in the extreme right wing for decades and is know by police since 2002.

The police search is ongoing, with social media accounts under the fugitive’s name under close scrutiny.

On Liebich’s account on platform X (formerly Twitter) a series of defiant posts appeared after failing to report for imprisonment.

“The secret of a magic trick: all eyes focus on the backdrop, while the object quietly slips into the shadows,” Liebich posted.

“No one knew about my decision – no lawyer, no family.”

Alongside the caption was an image resembling a Bond-style movie poster with the words: “From Russia woth love – James Bond” and the #runningwoman. Even a rock song celebrating her escape was posted to her account.

In another post, she hinted at her familiarity with the Russian language.

“A real advantage: As a little girl, I went to a school with advanced Russian classes. Now I realise how much of it still lingers in my head,” she wrote.

Whether these statements are genuine indications of her location or simply part of a larger disinformation campaign remains unclear.

Her account states at the top “other writers also type here”.

If she is found or decides to show up, her delayed start has serious consequences.

Authorities are unlikely to grant her placement in an open prison, which typically offers more freedom, including day release for work or training, as failing to begin a sentence on time usually disqualifies inmates from more lenient conditions.

Instead, she would likely be sent to a closed prison with much stricter security.

The Liebich case reignited the debate about the new German Self-Determination Act.

The law, which came into force in November 2024, replaced the former Transsexuals Act and made it much easier to legally change one’s gender and first name. Individuals aged 14 and over can now do so with a declaration at the registry office, without the need for medical assessments, hormone therapy or surgery.

Many affected individuals criticised the old system as intrusive and degrading.

Before her legal transition, Liebich had a long history of attacking queer communities, once branding LGBTQ+ people as “parasites of society.”

Some critics see her gender change as a far-right stunt designed to discredit and mock transgender rights.

“The judiciary, the public and politics are being made fools of,” Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the German news magazine Stern, calling for safeguards against misuse.

The case has reopened deep divisions in Germany’s coalition government.

The government, led by CDU/CSU Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is calling for an urgent review of the Self-Determination Act to prevent abuse of the gender recognition process.

However, the SPD, one of the leading parties behind the reform, insists no changes will be made. They are describing the Liebich case as an isolated incident involving a right-wing extremist, rather than a flaw in the law.

On the run – or in disguise?

According to the public prosecutor’s office, her escape to Russia is pure speculation.

The office said, they are not commenting on the ongoing search measures for tactical reasons.

In a post on X, the fugitive mocked the search efforts, urging her supporters to dress like her and confuse the authorities.

“A large-scale manhunt is underway. They activate all informants, informers, and block wardens. #MarlasArmy is now ordered to dress like #Marla, wear their beards like that, or stick them on, to flood the police with thousands of sightings,” the post read.

Whether she is hiding in Russia, seeking asylum in America, or orchestrating a far-right publicity stunt from within Germany remains unclear, sparking debate far beyond the prison walls in Chemnitz.