The Federal Ministry of the Interior of Germany has expressed serious concern over information suggesting that Russian authorities may be coordinating organized criminal groups to carry out sabotage and contract killings in European countries. This was reported by Spiegel, citing a report by Germany’s Interior Ministry.
Source: Censor.NET
According to the German government, the Kremlin controls so-called “Russian-Eurasian organized crime groups” (REOK). The report states that Russian intelligence services may use criminal structures to conduct illegal operations, while the state allegedly refrains from interfering in their activities or prosecuting them legally.
German security agencies report “numerous suspicious incidents” which, in their assessment, may be linked to actions by Russian authorities.
The report also states that since 2024 Russia has allegedly begun more actively using so-called “disposable agents” — individuals recruited online to carry out specific tasks. According to Germany, this approach helps avoid exposing professional operatives if those carrying out the missions are detained.
Bundestag internal security expert Marcel Emmerich stated that the combination of state structures and criminal networks poses a serious threat to Germany’s security.
According to him, the purpose of such actions may be to destabilize democratic processes and undermine public trust in state institutions.
Against the backdrop of these statements, members of the Bundestag are calling for expanded powers for Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution so that the intelligence agency can more effectively counter organized crime allegedly coordinated by Moscow.