Berlin Brothel Received Millions of Euros in Coronavirus Aid from Budget
However, it is likely that the sex workers employed at Artemis did not receive any of this money.
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Berlin's largest brothel, Artemis, received subsidies totaling at least 1.75 million euros during the pandemic — this information was discovered by the publication Bild in a database of state aid.
The payments were made under various federal coronavirus support programs.
According to the register, the company Artemis GmbH received at least five tranches. The largest of these – over 620,000 euros – was paid in March 2021.
The brothel owners refused to disclose the purposes for which the state subsidies were used or whether they are obliged to return part of the funds. According to information on the Artemis website, the women working there are "self-employed entrepreneurs who offer their services at their own expense."
The payment of such large sums has already been criticized by the trade union associated with the "Christian Democratic Union of Germany" party.
"Since coronavirus aid for brothels is funded by taxpayers, I expect a thorough review of these payments. We must ensure that the funds do not go to establishments linked to forced prostitution or human trafficking," stated Dagmar König, a member of the federal executive board of the Christian Democratic Workers' Union.