Germany's AfD joins Moscow Economic Forum amid criticism, former chancellor Schröder spotted in Russia

Two members of the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) – Markus Fronmaier and Stephan Kotre – attended the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, saying it was their duty to keep diplomatic channels open despite the tense international climate. Their participation was approved by their parliamentary group.

German intelligence chief Mark Henrichmann warned that such trips are "high‑risk" and could be used by Russian services to gather information and recruit spies, accusing the AfD of "flirting with Putin's mechanism". SPD foreign policy spokesman Sebastian Fintler and Green deputy leader Konstantin von Notz also condemned the move, calling it a security threat and alleging the party seeks to turn Germany into a Russian outpost.

At the same time, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was seen in Moscow’s Kempinski hotel. President Vladimir Putin had recently suggested Schröder could act as a mediator in the Ukraine war, a proposal the German government immediately rejected.