Russian Disinformation Campaigns Target German Elections

A History of Interference

Russia's attempts to sway elections through disinformation are nothing new. From the EU and US elections last year to Germany's own federal elections in 2021, the Kremlin's meddling hand has been observed. And the 2025 German federal elections are proving to be no exception.

Discrediting Centrist Parties

Experts have identified widespread Russian disinformation campaigns leading up to the February 23rd election. These campaigns primarily target centrist parties, aiming to sow discord and undermine public trust.

Lea Früchwirth from the Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS) notes that "most fake news [is] directed against the Greens, the CDU, and the SPD, as well as their top candidates." Interestingly, while the far-right AfD receives little mention, those mentions tend to be positive.

Targeting Top Candidates with Fabricated Stories

High-profile candidates have become victims of elaborate hoaxes. A video circulating online alleges a 2017 suicide attempt by CDU candidate Friedrich Merz, citing a fictitious psychiatrist and forged documents. The video subtly connects this false narrative to Merz's support for supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, a contentious issue in Germany.

Similarly, Green Party candidates Robert Habeck and Claudia Roth have been falsely implicated in a €100 million corruption scandal involving artwork. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the supposed victim of this scandal, has confirmed the allegations are baseless.

Sophisticated Disinformation Operations: Storm-1516, Doppelgänger, and Matryoshka

These disinformation campaigns utilize similar tactics: fabricated evidence, fake witnesses, and websites masquerading as legitimate news sources. These methods are consistent with the Russian disinformation operation known as Storm-1516.

The gnida project, a group of online researchers, uncovered over a hundred German-language websites initially populated with AI-generated, pro-Russian content, later used to disseminate false reports through social media platforms like X and Telegram.

Similar in nature is the Doppelgänger operation, which creates counterfeit websites and videos mimicking established media outlets like the BBC and DW. While some fakes are easily detectable, the sheer volume of disinformation poses a significant challenge.

The Matryoshka operation employs bot armies to flood journalists with requests to verify fake news, effectively spreading misinformation and overwhelming fact-checkers.

Boosting Pro-Russian Parties

Leonie Pfaller of NewsGuard points out that Russia's objectives are to "spread uncertainty and polarize voters," with a noticeable pattern of positive coverage for the AfD. Research suggests the Doppelgänger operation aimed to boost the AfD's vote share to at least 20%, coinciding with current polling figures.

The AfD's pro-Moscow stance, including calls to lift sanctions against Russia, makes it a likely recipient of Russian support. Similarly, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which downplays Russia's aggression in Ukraine, has also benefited from Russian propaganda.

A Long-Term Strategy

Felix Kartte of Stiftung Mercator argues that the immediate threat of election interference pales in comparison to Russia's overarching strategy of shaping public discourse. Narratives portraying Western governments as corrupt and suppressing free speech, often echoed by far-right parties, have gained traction in Germany.

Combating Disinformation: Awareness and Addressing Societal Needs

While foreign government-sponsored disinformation is not directly punishable under German law, an interdepartmental working group monitors these threats. Efforts focus on raising public awareness and promoting media literacy.

Kartte stresses that countering disinformation with facts alone is insufficient; politicians must address the underlying emotional needs of society and implement effective policies.