SZ podcast “To the Point”: Putin’s propaganda machine: lies, disinformation, fake news

A Russian propaganda machine is also attempting to influence public opinion in Germany with targeted lies, disinformation, and fake news. Since last weekend, a video of Chancellor Merz with French President Macron and British Prime Minister Starmer on their train journey to Ukraine has been circulating on social media channels.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson thundered, calling them "unbelievable footage" and claiming that Europe's fate was being decided by "dependent temporary workers." Maria Zakharova recirculated the heavily pixelated video and spread the rumor that Macron had taken a bag of cocaine from the table in his train compartment to hide it when journalists arrived for a photo op.

Merz, for his part, is alleged to have hidden a spoon for consuming cocaine. High-resolution images, however, show that the objects in front of Merz were a handkerchief and a stirrer for a drink or a small skewer for snacks, not a spoon.

"This is a classic accusation, often used to discredit foreign, but also Russian, political enemies, because it's particularly scandalous," says Eastern European historian Susanne Spahn in a podcast. The political scientist has researched this "Russia network" and written a book of the same name. According to Spahn, the Kremlin uses conspiracy theorists and pro-Russian media to spread such narratives. But the far-right AfD , the BSW, and parts of the Left Party are also open to Russian interests.

Other news: Merkel approves Gazprom deal; PKK dissolution; anti-Semitism dispute in the Left; elections in Romania and Poland.

You can listen to the research podcast “Das Thema” on Russia’s disinformation campaigns here.

Cicero, Nius , and Junge Freiheit have published the AfD report. Read an article by Ronen Steinke about how such information is handled here.

Steinke commented on the anti-Semitism debate within the Left here.

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