Chancellor Scholz Drops Legal Action Against CDU Politician Over Moscow Trip Claim

The German Chancellor dismissed legal steps after Roderich Kiesewetter retracted and deleted his tweet alleging unsubstantiated plans for a Moscow visit.

CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter claimed on X that Chancellor Olaf Scholz was planning a trip to Moscow before the February 23 Bundestag election, which Scholz called a 'false and deeply improper' accusation.
The tweet, suggesting a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin, was deleted by Kiesewetter following backlash and warnings of legal action from the Chancellor's office.
Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit confirmed that no legal steps would be pursued but warned Kiesewetter against making similar unsubstantiated claims in the future.
Scholz has denied any plans for a Moscow visit, emphasizing there had been no discussions or considerations for such a trip.
The accusation drew sharp criticism from Scholz's SPD party, with calls for Kiesewetter to face consequences, while some Green Party members expressed skepticism over the complete dismissal of the claim.