Germany accusing Russia of using 'refugee movement' as instrument of destabilizing West

BERLIN

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Monday accused Russia of using "refugee movement" as an instrument of destabilizing the West.

“Russia also wants to destabilize the West with migration,” Faeser told the Munich-based Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

She also warned of growing dangers from Russia's hybrid warfare.

“We are actually experiencing a new dimension of threats from Russian aggression here. We see attempts to exert influence through lies and through massive disinformation. But espionage is also at least as active,” Faeser added.

Germany will strengthen its defenses against Russia's influence in Western Europe in the coming months, the minister stressed.

Faeser emphasized the importance of protecting the upcoming elections, saying, "We must ensure that there are no hacker attacks on election authorities or the transmission of election results."

The European Parliament elections will take place in June, followed by state elections in three East German states - Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg - in September.