Vladimir Putin awards Pushkin medal to Alexander von Bismarck

Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented the Pushkin medal to German businessman and publicist Alexander von Bismarck during a ceremony at the Kremlin. The state distinction is awarded to Russian and foreign citizens for significant contributions to the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of cultures, nations, and peoples.

Alexander von Bismarck, a distant relative of the first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, is known for his pro-Russian orientation and ties to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the populist BSV party. During his acceptance speech, he cited a phrase often attributed to Otto von Bismarck: “When Germany and Russia are friends, Europe is well.”

In Germany, Alexander von Bismarck has faced criticism for his close ties to Russia. Following the cessation of the St. Petersburg Dialogue forum due to the war in Ukraine, he established an alternative platform called the Bismarck Dialogue. He previously served in local politics in Saxony-Anhalt as a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) before leaving the party.