AfD politicians, including those from the Berlin regional association, repeatedly travel to Russia, says expert Schwarz.Image: www.imago-images.de
Before the Berlin election, Karolin Schwarz warns against Russian disinformation. The expert sees the AfD in particular in a problematic role.
Jul 7, 2026, 5:49 amJul 7, 2026, 5:49 am
Two and a half months before the election for the Berlin House of Representatives, journalist and analyst Karolin Schwarz warns about Russian disinformation. In an interview with the “Berliner Morgenpost” she largely describes the AfD as “Putin’s ally” – and expresses an explosive suspicion with a connection to Berlin.
AfD politicians, including those from the Berlin regional association, repeatedly travel to Russia, says Schwarz. Such trips could “certainly involve the transfer of information”. From the Kremlin’s point of view, it also tends to be about access to secrets and information. However, she does not provide any evidence of specific events in the interview.
Fake news and AI videos are intended to create mistrust
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had also warned in advance that the Putin regime would try to influence the free formation of opinions and will in its favor. Regarding the relationship between the AfD and Russia, Schwarz says that the party is an amplifier and is in turn strengthened by Russia: “It’s a kind of symbiosis.” This does not only exist with Russia – the AfD also allies itself with right-wing extremist forces in the USA and in Austria with the FPÖ or the Identitarians. This does not apply to the entire party, “but to large parts and also parts of the Berlin regional association”.
Elections are about mobilization and demobilization, explains the analyst, who has been studying disinformation and foreign influence for more than ten years. Mistrust is spread and emotionalized through fake media and fake AI videos. In Berlin, the Middle East conflict and – especially among young voters – the debate about compulsory military service played a role.
At the same time, Schwarz puts the immediate effect into perspective: A lot of what is spread comes to nothing, and in many long-term campaigns the interaction numbers are negligible. A single disinformation story does not necessarily have the potential to change elections. For protection, it calls for precautionary measures from the state government and state election management as well as rapid clarification if false information is circulating.