Overview

• AfD confirmed that Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, Florian Schröder, and Frank Otto Lizureck attended a Berlin embassy event marking Vladimir Putin’s 73rd birthday.
• The gathering featured a “Putin silver medal” promoted by Compact editor Jürgen Elsässer alongside Russian ambassador Sergej Netschajew, according to FAZ reports cited by outlets.
• AfD co-faction leader Oliver Kirchner said he was informed of the visit and raised no objections, arguing for maintaining pragmatic contacts with countries including Russia and Iran.
• Leaders from the Linke, Greens, FDP, CDU, and SPD condemned the attendance, describing it as proximity to autocrats and a departure from democratic norms.
• SPD’s Katja Pähle pointed to Tillschneider using a Putin-themed mug in the state parliament as emblematic of the party’s stance, and critics warned Russia could try to influence the 2026 state race, with no formal action reported to date.