Birgit Bessin, a Bundestag deputy from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), ignited a political storm by leading more than 40 voters from her eastern constituency into the Russian Embassy in Berlin on September 11, 2025 — a symbolically charged date that sharpened the controversy and fueled accusations of tacit support for Moscow amid its ongoing war in Ukraine.This was reported by t-online, cited by The WP Times.
Funded by taxpayers under Bundestag program
Members of the Bundestag can invite up to three groups of 50 citizens each year to Berlin, with costs for travel, accommodation, meals, and local transport covered by the federal budget through the Federal Press Office. These trips are designed to promote political education among citizens. Bessin used this scheme to take residents from the districts of Elbe-Elster and Oberspreewald-Lausitz to the Russian diplomatic mission.
Photo inside embassy shared on Instagram
Bessin herself posted a photo on Instagram showing her and dozens of visitors posing inside the embassy, beneath Russian symbols. She explained that “in these politically tense times, maintaining communication is more important than ever.” According to t-online, many participants were local AfD officials and elected representatives.
Confrontation at the Ministry of Health
The group also visited the Federal Ministry of Health during their Berlin tour. According to t-online, discussions there turned confrontational, particularly regarding Germany’s COVID-19 policy.
Criticism from other parties
The trip provoked sharp criticism from rival MPs. Knut Abraham, a Bundestag member from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), condemned the visit as “nothing less than deliberate support for the war.” He stressed that the Russian Embassy was not a suitable place for free political education, describing its information policy as dominated by propaganda and lies.
Responses from AfD, embassy, and press office
Bessin defended her decision, arguing that it was important for visitor groups “to see different embassies so they can form their own impression.” The AfD’s parliamentary group in the Bundestag declined to comment.
The Russian Embassy stated it could not provide details about the program or other groups of parliamentarians for “data protection reasons,” but emphasized that “guests of different ages and political views regularly visit the embassy.”
A spokeswoman for the Federal Press Office clarified that her agency “has no influence on which places or events Bundestag members choose to visit with their groups outside the official program elements” it organizes.
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