Two of Germany’s intelligence agencies have warned that Moscow is trying deliberately to create unrest in Germany, according to the German tabloid Bild.
Both the country’s internal security agency and its foreign intelligence said that there was a particular danger that the Russian community in the country could be mobilised to speak or act against Germany.
Some 2 million Russians live in Germany and the spy chiefs claim to have evidence that they are influenced by Russia into generating street demonstrations.
In January, thousands of Germans of Russian descent went onto the streets after reports in Russian state media that a 13-year-old Russian girl had been kidnapped and raped by immigrants.
The girl was later found to have spent the time she was missing at a friend’s house, which contradicted her report of rape to the police, and was reported to have been hiding there “because she was having problems in school,” according to the local prosecutor.
But before the truth came out, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was quick to accuse Berlin police of covering up the incident. Berlin said it was “unacceptable” for Russia to exploit the matter.
The chief spies also believe Moscow is using interviews on their state media with Russians who have allegedly left Germany over safety concerns due to the arrival of refugees.
Such interviews serve the function of leaving viewers with the idea that Germany is in chaos and that Russian speakers there are under threat.
Relations between Moscow and Berlin have dipped to a recent low. Merkel was instrumental in organising European sanctions Moscow illegally annexed the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The sanctions have played a part in reducing the value of the Russian rouble.
More recently, however, Russia and Germany have worked together on a ceasefire in Syria.
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