Russia Asks Germany to Prosecute Journalist Over 'Kill More…
Russia's embassy in Germany requested that German prosecutors evaluate journalist Michael Martens' remarks during a press conference in Belgrade, where he asked what Europe could do to help Ukraine 'kill more Russians.' The embassy claimed the statements were intentional and incited violence, and it urged legal action under German criminal law.
Consensus
- The Russian embassy in Germany requested that German authorities evaluate the statements made by journalist Michael Martens.
- Martens asked during a press conference in Belgrade on August 8, 2026, what Europe could do to help Ukraine 'kill more russians'.
- The Russian embassy stated that Martens' remarks were intentional and lacked public apologies or disavowal.
- The embassy asked German prosecutors to assess whether the statements met the criteria for crimes under Articles 111, 130, and 140 of the German Criminal Code.
- The incident occurred during a joint press conference between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Points of divergence
- Russia has formally submitted a request to German law enforcement authorities to investigate Martens, and Moscow believes the journalist may be held accountable under Russian criminal law. — tg_MID_Russia
- The Russian embassy stated that Martens did not apologize and did not attempt to disavow his statements, and that the remarks had an 'intentional and deliberate character'. — vm
- The Russian embassy highlighted that Martens' grandfather was a high-ranking Nazi officer who served in the Wehrmacht's supreme command staff. — vesti
- A petition on Change.org calling for Martens' dismissal was created on August 10, 2026, but later blocked. — vedomosti
- The Russian ambassador in Germany described the German Foreign Ministry representative's statements as 'distorting reality' and 'unfriendly'. — tg_tass_agency
Coverage (7 sources)
- Response of Russia's Ambassador to Germany S.Yu.Nechayev to TASS Information Agency Question (August 20, 2026) — МИД России
- Russian Ambassador to Germany called German Foreign Ministry representative's statements on journalist scandal distorting reality — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Comment by the Embassy of Russia in Germany regarding the remarks of the correspondent of the newspaper «Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung»... — МИД России
- Russia asked German prosecutors to evaluate journalist's words about aid in 'killing Russians' — Вечерняя Москва
- Russian Embassy in Germany turned to prosecutors over journalist FAZ words — Вести
- Russian Embassy asked Berlin prosecutors to evaluate journalist FAZ's words — Ведомости
- Russian Embassy in Germany asked Berlin prosecutor to evaluate journalist FAZ's words about Russians, so... — ТАСС (Telegram)
Key entities
- Russia
- Germany
- Embassy
- FRG
- Berlin
- FAZ
- Frankfurt General Gazette
- MID
- Michael Martens
- Moscow
- TASS
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- M. Martensa V
More on Michael Martens
- Fico Condemns Journalist's Call to Kill More Russians
- Moscow Arrests FAZ Journalist Over 'Kill More Russians' Question
- Russia Issues International Warrant for German Journalist