Russia Targets German Election With Disinformation Campaign, Backs Far-Right AfD

A Russian disinformation campaign is actively working to bolster Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, undermine mainstream political factions, and stoke economic fears ahead of the February 23 election, according to the German think tank CeMAS on January 19.

CeMAS revealed it had identified hundreds of German-language disinformation posts on X in recent weeks. These posts followed familiar patterns associated with Russia’s Doppelganger disinformation campaign, which aims to erode Western support for Ukraine. The campaign was first launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has been condemned by German, US, and French authorities.

The campaign uses fake Western news outlets to disseminate false information, as outlined by the German Foreign Ministry. Russia has consistently denied any involvement in such activities.

CeMAS found that the disinformation posts on X targeted Germany’s Green Party for alleged economic mismanagement, criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s support for Ukraine, and cast doubt on the credibility of the conservative bloc.

These posts often included links to falsified German news sites or genuine articles selectively framed to fit the campaign’s narrative. Amplified by networks of fake accounts, the content amassed over 2.8 million views, according to CeMAS.

With the opposition conservatives predicted to win the election, the AfD—polling in second place—could wield significant influence. If the AfD secures a blocking minority, it could complicate coalition-building and governance in Germany.

The AfD’s momentum has also been bolstered by high-profile endorsements, including from X owner Elon Musk. Musk endorsed the AfD in December and hosted a live chat on X with the party’s chancellor candidate Alice Weidel earlier this month.

A recent INSA poll placed the conservatives at 29% and the AfD at 21%, double its performance in the 2021 election. Scholz’s Social Democrats trail in third at 16%, followed by the Greens at 13%.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) established a task force to counter foreign interference in the election. In a November statement, the BfV highlighted a surge in “aggressive behavior” by Moscow toward Germany and other nations supporting Ukraine.

As Ukraine’s second-largest financial and military backer, Germany has drawn significant attention from Russian efforts to undermine Western unity and erode support for Kyiv.

Earlier, Russian outlets, including TASS, reported that a Danish F-16 instructor was killed during a missile strike in Ukraine. In response, the Danish Ministry of Defense issued a statement denying the claim, calling it disinformation.