Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – According to the head of the NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Jürgen Kayser, the Russian government is specifically encouraging “Reich citizens” in their world view. “In the “Reichsbürger” scene, pro-Russian narratives prevail,” Kayser told the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” (Tuesday). The country is often seen as the victim of a global conspiracy that is forcing Putin to resist NATO’s alleged expansion plans in Ukraine. And Russia has an interest in “destabilizing German society.” “For this purpose, the “Reich citizens” are also used, whose crude world view is being strengthened in a targeted manner by the Russian government,” said Kayser.
“Reich citizens” are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures. On Wednesday last week, the federal prosecutor’s office had 25 suspected “Reich citizens” arrested, including former officers and police officers. She accuses 22 of those arrested of being a member of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system.
In response to the general question about the activities of the Russian secret service in North Rhine-Westphalia, constitutional protection officer Kayser said that “influential activities of all kinds” are assumed. “On social networks, disinformation is being spread through certain channels by influencers who are obviously supported by Moscow,” he explained. “At the same time, we have to assume that interesting objects are being specifically spied on, such as barracks where Ukrainian soldiers were being trained on weapon systems. There were indications that drones were flying over them.”
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine since February.
