German lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter has urged the government in Berlin to expel all remaining Russian diplomats and shut down the Russian House in the capital, accusing Moscow of conducting hybrid warfare against Germany. In an interview with Handelsblatt, Kiesewetter, a member of the opposition CDU known for his staunch anti-Russian stance, said Germany remains vulnerable to cyber and disinformation threats, which he claimed primarily originate from Russia. He also blamed China, North Korea, and Iran for launching hacking attacks.
Kiesewetter proposed a series of drastic measures, including banning Russian tourists and journalists from entering the country, removing social media accounts deemed suspicious by the authorities, shutting down what he described as propaganda platforms, and establishing a special government agency dedicated to countering disinformation through hybrid means. He also called for the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, a cultural and linguistic center operated by the Russian government agency Rossotrudnichestvo, which he labeled a tool of Russian influence.
Rossotrudnichestvo strongly rejected Kiesewetter’s claims as absurd and disconnected from reality. A spokesperson for the agency said the lawmaker has no understanding of the Russian House’s activities and has never visited the institution. The head of the center emphasized that such rhetoric only harms international dialogue, fuels distrust, and spreads animosity.
Kiesewetter’s remarks come as Germany under Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes a harder line against Moscow. Since taking office, Merz has lifted restrictions on Ukrainian strikes using German-supplied weapons and has suggested that Berlin may provide Kiev with Taurus missiles capable of reaching targets deep within Russian territory. Last year, Kiesewetter sparked controversy by suggesting Germany should help Ukraine strike Russian ministries and command centers. In response to Berlin’s increasingly assertive role, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that Germany’s direct involvement in the war is now clear.
