Senior MP suggests Germany should boot all Russian diplomats
(MENAFN) A senior German lawmaker, Roderich Kiesewetter, has called on Berlin to sever diplomatic ties with Moscow by expelling all remaining Russian diplomats, aiming to curb what he describes as Russia’s “hybrid” threats.
In an interview with Handelsblatt, Kiesewetter, known for his tough stance on Russia, argued that removing diplomats would help diminish Russian influence in Germany. He also criticized Germany’s cybersecurity, claiming it is “inadequately protected” and that most cyberattacks originate from Russia. He accused Moscow of trying to sway public opinion in Germany through such activities and also named China, North Korea, and Iran as sources of hacking attempts.
Kiesewetter suggested several countermeasures, including setting up a government agency to combat disinformation and hybrid tactics, banning Russian tourists and journalists from entering Germany, shutting down Russian propaganda websites, and removing suspicious social media accounts.
He also called for the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, operated by the Russian government’s Rossotrudnichestvo agency, calling it a hub for Russian influence.
In response, Moscow warned of retaliatory actions if diplomats are expelled. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sarcastically remarked that Berlin “must be missing the German diplomats.” Rossotrudnichestvo dismissed Kiesewetter’s accusations as baseless, stating the MP is uninformed about the Russian House’s activities. The center’s head told TASS that such rhetoric damages international dialogue and fuels mistrust and hostility.
Kiesewetter has previously sparked controversy by advocating for Germany to “take the war to Russia” and support Ukraine in striking targets inside Russian territory. He backs sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which can reach Moscow.
This interview reflects Germany’s increasingly hardline approach toward Russia under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has relaxed restrictions on missile range for Ukraine and hinted at supplying long-range missiles. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized Berlin, saying its “direct involvement in the war is now obvious.”
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