Russia Targets German Elections with Fake News Campaign 'Operation Matryoshka'
Russian disinformation operatives are flooding German social media with fabricated news reports and personal attacks on candidates ahead of September regional elections, using forged media logos to discredit opponents of the far-right AfD.
Ahead of the September 6 Saxony-Anhalt state election and other regional votes, German security authorities have identified a coordinated Russian disinformation campaign called Operation Matryoshka. The operation uses fake social media posts disguised as legitimate news reports from trusted outlets like the BBC and German broadcasters to attack non-AfD candidates and portray Germany as politically divided.
The campaign represents a shift from previous Russian interference efforts, which focused on broad political narratives. This operation targets individual candidates with personalized fabricated accusations, using sophisticated media forgery. Researchers have documented hundreds of posts circulating on social platforms carrying forged logos of reputable news organizations.
What's at stake
- Elections in flux: Saxony-Anhalt votes September 6; four other states hold elections this fall. The AfD is polling around 40% in Saxony-Anhalt and could potentially govern alone—a historic scenario not seen since 1945.
- Kremlin advantage: Moscow welcomes AfD success, as the party has ties to Russia and advocates closer relations with Putin. The disinformation aims to weaken traditional parties (CDU, SPD) in coalition negotiations.
The German foreign ministry has summoned Russia's ambassador and coordinated responses with EU partners. If you follow German politics online or plan to vote in any of the fall elections, verify news through official sources and fact-check sites rather than social media. Be especially skeptical of dramatic allegations about candidates that appear only on unverified posts.
Sources
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