Press
In Germany, AfD politician Tillschneider is widely known for his pro-Russian statements. Apparently he is also trying to make a name for himself in Russia.
Magdeburg/Moscow – In the wake of the latest allegations against AfD-Politicians, among other things, the suspected proximity of some members of the party to Russia were scrutinized and criticized. In the German Bundestag, accusations were made against the AfD that they were a mouthpiece for autocrats. An AfD MP is now giving further support to this accusation.
A member of the AfD state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, has often caused a stir with his pro-Kremlin statements. Sentences like “Putin “defends Russian interests and that is his right,” Tillschneider reports MDR according to the Magdeburg state parliament. But the AfD MP shares his pro-Russian stance not only with the German public, but also with the Russian public.
AfD MP writes “free” column for Russian newspaper
Tillschneider has been writing for the Russian newspaper since January 2023 Vedomosti a monthly column, like this Central German newspaper first reported. He wrote his texts for free, he told the newspaper. Some excerpts from the texts that Tillschneider published in German on his Facebook page read like Putin’s propaganda.
In his column in January 2023, Tillschneider writes that Russia has “drawn a red line” with the attack on Ukraine, which he does not name as such. As if Putin himself had written the text, Tillscheider justifies the Russian attack with the NATO-Eastern expansion. The emphasis on the need for a “German-Russian friendship” occurs again and again in the AfD politician’s column.
AfD politician writes column for Russia: Tillschneider draws SS comparison with Ukrainian offensive
In a text in December 2023, Tillschneider writes, “Russia is today more independent and therefore stronger than ever before” and compares the Ukrainian counteroffensive to the “offensive of SS General Felix Steiner in the Battle of Berlin in April 1945.” The West, Tillschneider continued, “is in decline in every respect.” He repeatedly glorifies Putin’s actions in Russia and his War in Ukraine.
Tillschneider shows his fable for Putin – but also for Trump
In his texts, Tillschneider not only comes out as a fan of Putin, but also of the former US president Donald Trump The AfD politician seems to have found favor. Like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán before him, Tillschneider promises “peace” with Trump.
AfD column in a Russian newspaper with owners close to the Kremlin
It’s not just the content of the AfD politician’s column that raises questions. Opposite the Central German newspaper Tillschneider explained that the newspaper Vedomosti became aware of him when he wanted to visit the Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine in 2022. At that time, the AfD leadership had Tillschneider cancel his trip. Tillschneider called Vedomosti a “renowned daily newspaper”.
In 2020 the business newspaper Vedomosti sold. The new owners are both considered to be close to the Kremlin, as Reporters Without Borders reported. At that time, the new editor-in-chief, Andrei Shmarov, said he had no problem with the owners interfering in questions of content. The Kremlin restricts media and press freedom in Russia has been massive for years. In Tillschneider’s case that doesn’t seem necessary. The AfD politician moves with his texts completely in line with the Kremlin. (pav)
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