As Germany approaches critical regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania this September, a growing cloud of suspicion surrounds the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Lawmakers and anti-Kremlin activists increasingly warn that Russia is orchestrating sophisticated disinformation campaigns to destabilize the country and favor the AfD. With the party currently topping pre-election polls, a victory could mark the first time since 1945 that a far-right entity gains control of a German regional government, potentially dealing a significant blow to the ruling coalition’s stability.
The mechanics of this alleged interference involve the “Matryoshka” (Russian doll) operation, a known Kremlin-linked network that has previously deployed fake content for political ends. Through the use of mocked-up media branding, the campaign is mimicking reputable outlets like AFP, ARD, and Deutsche Welle to spread fabrications regarding corruption and criminality among mainstream political figures. Notably, these coordinated attacks consistently spare the AfD and the pro-Russian BSW party, leading analysts to conclude that the operation serves as a strategic propaganda tool to shape the German electorate’s perceptions during the lead-up to the vote.
Accusations of a “shared work” dynamic between the Kremlin and the German far-right have gained traction within the Bundestag. Konstantin von Notz, a Green party MP and vice-chair of parliament’s intelligence oversight committee, argues that Russia leverages a multi-million-euro budget to seed narratives that the AfD then amplifies as part of its platform. While the Russian embassy has dismissed these claims as “ridiculous,” German security officials and activists characterize the effort as part of a “hybrid war” designed to exacerbate regional tensions, erode trust in mainstream institutions, and undermine Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Despite the intensity of these digital campaigns, the legislative response remains cautious. While Germany’s domestic spy agency (BfV) acknowledges the threat presented by these “cognitive war” tactics, the government has yet to announce concrete counter-measures. Some lawmakers, such as CDU member Marc Henrichmann, fear that aggressive intervention might inadvertently grant the disinformation campaigns more visibility than they have achieved on their own. This dilemma highlights an acute vulnerability in German democracy, where the drive to protect the information landscape must be balanced against the risk of inadvertently amplifying enemy propaganda.
From the perspective of the AfD, these allegations represent a coordinated smear campaign intended to suppress political dissent. Candidates and supporters argue that their platform—which prioritizes economic revival through the resumption of cheap Russian energy imports and a reduction in social spending on immigration—is based on national interest rather than foreign allegiance. For the party’s base, the narrative that Russia is a “natural ally” remains prevalent, framing any calls for a diplomatic “understanding” with Moscow as a pragmatic necessity for a struggling German economy rather than evidence of clandestine cooperation.
Ultimately, the confluence of rising far-right popularity and digital interference creates a high-stakes environment for German democracy. As the scheduled elections on September 6 and 20 approach, the debate over foreign meddling has become inseparable from the internal debate over the country’s foreign policy and economic future. The standoff leaves the government grappling with an evolving threat that moves beyond traditional espionage, forcing a difficult national conversation about how to safeguard public discourse against state-backed influence operations while preserving the democratic ideals they are meant to undermine.