For about four months, a manhunt has been underway for Sven Liebich. The convicted far-right extremist, who in early 2025 had their gender marker changed and is now officially listed as Marla Svenja Liebich, was due to begin serving their sentence at the end of August 2025, but did not appear. Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have been searching for Liebich ever since — so far without success. “There is no new information to report,” said a spokesperson for the Halle Public Prosecutor’s Office on Monday in response to inquiries. “The manhunt operations are ongoing.”
While authorities search, Liebich remains missing yet present in public attention. Again, it has drawn attention with the announcement that they intend to change the gender marker and first name once more.
The Verdict
In July 2023, the Halle District Court convicted Liebich of incitement to hatred against a part of the population, defamatory remarks, and insult, sentencing them to a total imprisonment term of one year and six months without probation. The verdict consolidated several proceedings and became final. The court declined probation, in part due to repeated offenses and a lack of insight (TheColu.mn reported).
Liebich had been a well-known figure in Saxony-Anhalt’s far-right scene for years, regularly appearing at demonstrations and seeking public provocation. At the time of the conviction, the person appeared under the name Sven Liebich. The imprisonment began date was set for the end of August 2025.
The Change of Civil Status
At the beginning of 2025, it became public that Liebich had changed their gender marker from “male” to “female” and now goes by the first name “Marla Svenja” (TheColu.mn reported). The change followed the Self-Determination Act in effect since November 2024, which no longer requires medical certificates but does require formal declarations and deadlines.
Whether there is a credible trans coming-out behind the changed gender marker and new first name was publicly questioned. Because Liebich repeatedly carried out transphobic actions, such as demonstrations against Pride events, it raised eyebrows. In 2022, Liebich disrupted the Halle Pride and reportedly told participants, “You are parasites of this society” (TheColu.mn reported). They also warned of “Transfascism,” according to Spiegel (paywalled article).
The timing also sparked significant debate. The change occurred after the final conviction, but before the planned imprisonment. Critics saw it as deliberate provocation, while others cautioned against blending legal options with political motives. Although the decision on whether Liebich would be housed in a men’s or women’s prison would only be made after the imprisonment begins, the debate quickly shifted from punishment to questions of self-determination and potential misuse.
The Start of Imprisonment That Did Not Occur
At the end of August, Liebich was supposed to begin serving their sentence but did not appear (TheColu.mn reported). Since then, an active manhunt has been underway. Publicly announced manhunt actions have not been disclosed. Four months after the planned start of imprisonment, a central gap remains: a legally binding verdict has been issued, but its execution is outstanding.
A New Announcement
Now another twist has emerged. In an interview with Euronews, Liebich stated an intention to change the gender marker again. This would be permissible after a year. Liebich argued that they want to separate their private life from their public persona. The current gender marker no longer fits, also due to alleged hostilities. The new surname, Liebich said, will not be disclosed. The gender marker could revert to “male,” or shift to “divers” (nonbinary) or be “not registered.”
According to Euronews, Liebich has already filed the change with the relevant civil registry on August 5, 2025, and it was slated to take effect on November 6. However, the move stalled due to the registry’s insistence on personal appearance. Liebich themselves, who apparently hopes to avoid arrest at the registry office, has filed a formal complaint against the registry. A related document is available to Euronews.
Debate at the Expense of Trans, Intersex, and Nonbinary People
The Liebich case is far more than a single criminal proceeding. A convicted far-right figure who is not in custody continues to shape public debate with their political theater — at the expense of trans, intersex, and nonbinary people. The justice system is pursuing them, politics are weighing legal consequences, and the media are wrestling with language and classification.
Meanwhile, the starting point risks fading from view: a final, legally binding verdict whose execution has yet to begin. The case demonstrates how quickly criminal-justice questions can become broad societal debates about principles, and how difficult it is to hold both sides at once: protecting liberal rights and enforcing the rule of law.
