german national accused of gas pipeline sabotage in kaliningrad

Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is considered part of their propaganda effort. Such reports are a component of the information war being waged by the Russian Federation.

- As evidence of his alleged connections, a photo purportedly showing him with Olaf Scholz, found on his phone, is being displayed. The risk of being accused of "diversionary intentions" or "espionage" by the FSB and KGB against any European traveling to Russia or Belarus remains high - warns Dr. Michał Marek, an expert on countering disinformation.

This comment pertains to recent news from Kaliningrad, which is currently experiencing "spy mania." This began when the RIA Novosti agency and state television Rossiya24 announced that Russian authorities had detained Nikolai G., a 57-year-old resident of Hamburg with German citizenship. Allegedly, he was caught transporting liquid explosives from Poland to the Kaliningrad region a few days ago.

According to the Federal Security Service, the substance was contained in a bottle, and the device was designed so that placing the bottle in the right spot and pulling out the pin would trigger an explosion with a delay that would be safe for the perpetrator.

After his arrest, Nikolai G. reportedly confessed to participating in sabotage in March this year, which involved blowing up a gas transmission station in Kaliningrad. This incident led to a gas supply disruption in part of the city, resulting in complaints from residents and drawing the attention of authorities.

Russian reports do not specify on whose behalf Nikolai G. was allegedly working. However, they claim this was his second trip from Germany through Poland to the Kaliningrad region. He supposedly admitted that his aim was to organize diversionary activities at energy facilities.

Moreover, the FSB alleges that G. had a cache in the city cemetery containing elements to make a bomb himself. Russian television, presenting materials from Russian services, reported that the "spy-bomber" had a joint photo on his phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This point was especially highlighted in reports on Telegram, leading to a "hunt" for other suspicious Germans in the media.

A popular Kaliningrad news service, Klops, featured former East German Army Lieutenant Colonel Uwe Niemeyer, who has lived in Kaliningrad since 1995 and received Russian citizenship in 2020.

- To those Russian Germans who left our country during difficult times and are now returning to the region, one should approach with particular caution. They could be ideal members of a fifth column. Law-abiding, disciplined, and order-loving, but in reality engaging in illegal and disruptive activities - the retired military officer argued.

- Their stereotypical justifications for returning to the homeland of our fathers are not a convincing motivation for me. They could be traitors. They speak Russian, adapt very quickly to our life, making them much more effective in their work - he elaborated.

The term "Russian Germans" refers to people who, citing their German origin, emigrated from the region and received German citizenship. As we have previously reported, according to data from the Polish border guard, this is the largest group of travelers crossing the border with the Kaliningrad region.

The media in Kaliningrad are extensively covering the ongoing situation regarding the "saboteur." In court, during a hearing about his arrest, he was shown locked in a cage.

"The man is suspected of committing a serious crime against public safety. He faces up to seven years in prison. During the investigation, it was determined that if he were free, he could hide or otherwise interfere with the investigation," communicated the court in Kaliningrad.

This is another case of a German being apprehended in recent months. The German authorities are aware of the actions being taken against their citizen and are distancing themselves from the Russian accusations. The topic of "hunts" for Western citizens is also present in the German media.

Tomasz Molga, journalist at Wirtualna Polska