Germany: Authorities on Alert Ahead of Regional Elections Amid Concerns of Russian Influence

German security authorities are on high alert due to targeted disinformation campaigns suspected to be orchestrated by Russian actors seeking to influence the upcoming September regional elections in three German states. These operations reportedly involve the creation and dissemination of manipulated videos aimed at damaging the reputations of politicians and parties deemed critical of Moscow.

According to security sources, hundreds of such videos are circulating online. To lend them an air of credibility, these fabricated clips often bear the logos of well-known German media outlets, though they were neither created nor published by these organizations. The content is primarily distributed through social media platforms, including X, although several videos have already been removed. The German Interior Ministry emphasizes that, despite their currently limited impact, these activities cannot be dismissed and pose a risk of increasing societal confusion and polarization.

These campaigns are reportedly connected to an operation codenamed "Matryoshka," named after the traditional Russian nesting dolls. Similar activities were observed before the 2025 federal elections. Security services believe these campaigns are centrally planned in Russia and executed through networks and companies tasked with generating and spreading misleading content. Initially, the perpetrators allegedly sought to exacerbate social and political divisions between eastern and western Germany, spreading false claims, such as children from eastern Germany facing bullying in western schools.

The focus then reportedly shifted to specific political figures, with fabricated accusations of embezzlement, sexual harassment, and other offenses. Notably, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) appear to be excluded from these targeted smear campaigns. The elections in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin on September 20, are being closely watched, with expectations that the AfD could significantly increase its support, particularly in eastern German states.

German government sources categorize these actions within a broader strategy of hybrid threats attributed to Russia. They describe an organized "disinformation ecosystem" involving various actors. The German authorities consider this a "long-term hybrid threat," underscoring the persistent nature of these interference attempts.