A German politician is calling for a stronger response to the growing threat of Russian cyber attacks and sabotage. Roderich Kiesewetter, a security policy expert for the Christian Democratic Union, has urged the government to take concrete actions in the face of a significant increase in Russian cyber attacks and subversive activities.
Kiesewetter, who is the vice-chair of the parliamentary committee on intelligence, has suggested that the remaining Russian agents and diplomats in Germany should be identified and expelled. This comes after the government already expelled 40 diplomats from the Russian embassy in April 2022. He also believes that the “Russian House” in Berlin, a cultural center and language school, should be shut down, as it is operated by a Russian government agency that is on the EU’s sanctions list.
The agency, which is linked to the Russian foreign ministry, has been accused of being a hub for a network of Russian expatriates and influence agents and of promoting Kremlin propaganda. The European Union has previously described it as a “dach organization for a network of Russian compatriots and influence agents” and a key player in spreading disinformation.
Kiesewetter has called for a range of measures to limit the impact of foreign influence, disinformation and propaganda, including a visa ban for tourists, a ban on appearances by propagandists and the shutdown of propaganda portals. He has also suggested the introduction of a “disinformation warning app” similar to the Nina warning app used by the German government, to alert the public to disinformation campaigns.
Furthermore, Kiesewetter has advocated for the establishment of a new agency dedicated to countering disinformation, which could also engage in counter-hybrid activities against disinformation.