Moscow dismisses ‘fabricated’ German drone incident claims

Berlin has used a “far-fetched” pretext to further damage bilateral relations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said Russia has rejected German claims that it was behind a suspected drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in early August, dismissing the allegations as a “far-fetched” pretext to further strain bilateral relations.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday that Berlin had failed to provide any evidence to substantiate its claims.

Her remarks came after German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced new measures against Russia, which they linked to the August 4 incident.

The measures include closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn from September 18 and terminating the lease of the Russian House in Berlin.

Germany will also tighten border controls for Russian nationals, draw up a new list of individuals for EU sanctions, and increase pressure on what Berlin calls Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Read more Faith in fakes: How anti-Russian hysteria is driving the EU’s drone hoax According to Dobrindt, the measures were agreed after the German government concluded that Russia was “the perpetrator” behind the early-August incident, in which an explosive-laden drone was found lying between Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes on the apron at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Germany has “failed to present any even remotely convincing or serious evidence” of Russian involvement, Zakharova said on Telegram on Tuesday.

“There is none and there cannot be any,” she added.

Zakharova argued that German authorities had long sought to target both the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin, and had now come up with an “absolutely trumped-up and far-fetched” pretext to further damage bilateral relations.

Berlin “will get a fitting response,” she warned.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also accused Germany of pursuing further escalation, saying Berlin had failed to provide any arguments substantiating its accusations against Moscow.

German officials have called for the closure of Russian diplomatic missions and the Russian House, a cultural and language center in Berlin, for some time.

In June, Roderich Kiesewetter, a senior MP and member of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Germany “should expel any remaining [Russian] diplomats.” He also described the Russian House as part of Moscow’s “influence” network.

Last year, Kiesewetter caused controversy at home after arguing that Germany should “take the war to Russia.”