Germany accuses Russia of using Red for disinformation

Germany accuses Russia of using Red for disinformation is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• Germany says Russia uses Red to manipulate public opinion and create division within German society.
• Red’s close ties to Russia’s RT and its links to AFA Medya have led to EU sanctions for undermining democratic processes.

What happened: Russia uses Red to spread disinformation

Germany’s foreign ministry confirmed that Russia uses the online media platform Red to spread disinformation and create division within German society. A spokesperson explained that although Red calls itself an independent platform for journalists, it has strong ties to Russian state media, particularly RT. The spokesperson added that Red serves Russia’s interests by influencing the public opinion in Germany, especially concerning the war in Ukraine.

The platform is run by Turkish company AFA Medya. This company and its founder, Huseyin Dogru, have received sanctions from the European Union. The EU accuses them of undermining Germany’s democratic processes. After receiving the sanctions, Red announced it would shut down on May 16. Despite its closure, Germany claims Russia still uses the platform to influence European public opinion and stir conflict.

Also read: La Vanguardia cuts ties with ‘disinformation network’ X
Also read: AFRINIC staff violated obligations during 2025 election

Why it’s important

The Russian disinformation campaign forms a key part of the broader strategy in the war in Ukraine. Germany is particularly concerned because these tactics target the heart of democratic systems and influence public attitudes. The Russian use of Red shows how foreign governments can manipulate media to divide and control public sentiment in Europe.

Germany’s actions against Red show the European Union’s efforts to protect its democracy. The sanctions against AFA Medya and its founder reflect the EU’s goal to prevent foreign influence over the media. This situation highlights the need to defend the media environment in democratic countries, especially when information manipulation becomes a major tool in international conflict.