Kremlin created a “manifesto” for the German AfD party. The fascist Thuringian state leader Höcke is said to have used it almost verbatim in a speech.

4 comments

1. paywall?

   edit:

   Not a paywall; I just can’t get the notification to translate, to allow access.

   accessible article [https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/der-spiegel-un-manifesto-per-il-partito-di-estrema-destra-tedesco-afd-fu-redatto-al-cremlino/](https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/der-spiegel-un-manifesto-per-il-partito-di-estrema-destra-tedesco-afd-fu-redatto-al-cremlino/)

   The amazing thing is that Russia has been doing this for more than 25 years, and despite it being almost transparent it has worked for them.

   Russian propaganda through news media and social media has been amazingly effective in the US and Europe. But that’s almost subtle compared to the direct leverage Russia has applied in other ways, e.g.:

   Russia’s actions in Europe were described in advance in the 1997 book that is still required reading in many Russian schools. [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics)

   > Germany should be offered the de facto political dominance over most Protestant and Catholic states located within Central and Eastern Europe. Kaliningrad Oblast could be given back to Germany. The book uses the term **”Moscow–Berlin axis”**.

   **NORD STREAM 1 WAS THE PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE “MOSCOW-BERLIN AXIS”**, and Scholz’s predecessor Schroder is still lobbying for Nord Stream 2 and calling for Ukraine to concede territory to Russia. Realpolitik and political corruption are major reasons why Europe did practically nothing when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 (in addition to the situation of Ukraine’s government being different then, of course).

   In both examples – propaganda for the masses and realpolitik/corruption – what was targeted was people’s self-interest. The first example twisted people’s understanding of their self-interest so that it aligned with Russia’s interest. The second example simply fed the greed of people with no actual national loyalty.

   And of course this new reveal is more evidence for the horseshoe theory. Crafting a narrative that aligns the far left and far right is not challenging.

   edit2:

   There is a new-ish propaganda narrative circulating, that Russia could have been a peaceful democracy after the collapse of the Soviet Union if only the West had given it MORE.

   When the Soviet Union collapsed, western countries immediately loaned Russia billions to prop up its government, and increased trade. That ensured that the Russian people would not see freedom in their country, because the Russian government and oligarchs kept all the aid, privatized industry, and used the military to immediately start conquering neighbors Soviet-style.

   Also remember that Russia had/has vast natural resources and got to keep its Soviet nuclear arsenal (and the rest of its military). Russia wasn’t some helpless, undeveloped country that actually needed western investment.

   The story that the west didn’t loan and trade enough with the Russian government post-1991 is the worst possible reading of history. It’s backwards. The generous western support of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union must be recognized as the mistake it was, or the cycle will repeat again. The Russia problem won’t be solved before Russia has a cultural revolution to divorce itself from 500 years of systemic authoritarianism, dishonesty, aggression, and exploitation, and that won’t happen until the country is collapsed so thoroughly that it can’t pretend again that its failure doesn’t demand change.

   If someone is questioning the revisionist history that Russia would have been a peaceful democracy if only the West had given it MORE after 1991, read [this exchange between Yeltsin and Clinton from 1999 and reconsider.](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F8v0f3k17e0bc1.jpeg) There is a mountain of evidence like that.

   Realpolitik doesn’t spread democracy or reduce geopolitical conflicts, it’s just moral cover for industries and oligarchs to get richer through short-term, international exploitation. Aiding the enemy is not smart or enlightened.

   When Russia is driven out of Ukraine, do not lessen the sanctions much less rush to provide aid. Do not fall victim again to sympathy propaganda about the poor Russian people (who have been the actual committers of genocide in Ukraine), or to fear propaganda about Russian nuclear materials (that are well-secured). **COLLAPSE RUSSIA COMPLETELY.** When the Russian people are ready to put their cultural history in the past, then let’s help them build a free and democratic Russia.

   When someone says “Russians are forced to support the war”, remind them that a majority greedily support their imperialism, and the minority are forced by other Russians – not by Putin.

   Putin hasn’t personally killed, kidnapped, raped or tortured anyone in Ukraine. But there’s plenty of evidence of Russian people doing those things, even to civilians – on a genocidal scale.

   Human beings have agency, make choices, and are morally accountable – whereas animals can’t be blamed for what they do. When someone says “The Russian people aren’t to blame”, they are asking you to view Russians like animals. People who plead for blamelessness for Russians are not only spreading Russian sympathy propaganda, they are ironically de-humanizing Russians to do it.

2. *Translation:*

   More and more links between the AfD and Russia are being uncovered. According to a report in “Der Spiegel”, the Kremlin has drawn up a paper on how the AfD could become the strongest party. The Thuringian state leader [Höcke](https://www.dw.com/en/could-a-fascist-soon-head-a-german-state-government/a-67990287) is said to have used it almost verbatim.

   According to a media report, the Russian government discussed the future of the AfD at a strategy meeting a year and a half ago and subsequently drew up a “manifesto” with theses on German domestic policy. The meeting in early September 2022 in the Kremlin was about “developing a new concept for the Alternative for Germany party”, according to Der Spiegel, citing a note from a Western intelligence agency.

   According to the report, the “manifesto” painted a gloomy picture of Germany, particularly its economic and social situation. It also spoke of an increasing division in the country. “Uneducated politicians who are unable to calculate the consequences of their decisions have dragged Germany into a conflict with Russia, a natural ally of our country and our people,” the paper reads.

   The aim was to increase the AfD’s poll ratings “and achieve a majority in elections at all levels”, reports Der Spiegel. Even renaming the party to “United Germany” or “German Unity” is said to have been on the table.

   The Kremlin representatives apparently also had a coalition partner in mind. The Left Party was explicitly mentioned as a possible partner. At the time, Sahra Wagenknecht’s alliance had not yet split from the party.

   According to the findings of the unnamed intelligence service, the order was placed in September 2022 by one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest confidants. The deputy head of the presidential administration, Sergei Kiriyenko, passed the order on to Tatyana Matveeva, head of department in the presidential administration. As research by the “Washington Post” this year has shown, she is responsible for the propaganda units for Europe.

   It is unclear what happened to the paper after it was written and whether the AfD was aware of its creation. Inquiries from Der Spiegel remained unanswered.

   What is interesting, however, is that the current AfD lead candidate for the state election in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, gave a speech in Gera in October 2022. According to the report, content from the “manifesto” was “sometimes almost word for word”. When confronted with this, Höcke simply replied: “Same does not mean exactly same.” The AfD did not comment on this.

   Meanwhile, further details have also emerged in connection with the allegations of accepting money from Russia against AfD member of the Bundestag and European list runner-up Petr Bystron. He is said to have admitted to the party executive that he “accepted small packages from the pro-Russian media manager Artem Martshevskiy”, reports Der Spiegel, citing participants in the meeting.

   Martshevskiy is said to have been responsible for the content of the Russia-friendly platform “Voice of Europe” and to have maintained contacts with European politicians. According to Der Spiegel, Bystron denied that there was any money in the parcels – but he did not say what the parcels contained. When asked by Der Spiegel, Bystron spoke of a “campaign” that was to be “kept alive” by the media until the election.

3. With other words: Putin, who purports to fight alleged Nazis in Ukraine, supports actual Nazis in Germany.

4. It’s probably the intelligent version of a speech they gave to Marge Traitor Greenback.