Germany hits back at Russia over cyberattacks on democracy
Last year, Russia launched an attack on Germany's co-governing SPD party. In retaliation, the German Foreign Ministry called upon the Russian embassy's charge d'affaires in Berlin to explain. The German government pointed out that the activities of the APT28 hacker group targeted not only political entities but also spanned government agencies and companies within the logistics, defense, aviation, and IT services sectors.
The German Foreign Ministry released a statement to underscore the gravity of the situation. It stated, "We wish to make it unequivocally clear that such behavior is unacceptable; we strongly condemn these actions and reserve the right to respond appropriately." This was a definitive diplomatic message to Moscow.
Wolfgang Buechner, the deputy government spokesperson, outlined the German government's position on the issue. He highlighted the government's strong denunciation of the persistent and intolerable cyberattacks led by Russian state-backed entities and urged Russia to halt its cyber operations, as reported by the DPA news agency.
Germany Presents Evidence
Buechner noted that credible German intelligence has confirmed the APT28 hacker group's involvement with the Russian military intelligence service, GRU.
This campaign targeted not only entities within Germany but also extended to other European nations and Ukraine, affecting government agencies, companies in various critical sectors, foundations, and associations. Buechner reminded that APT28 was also behind the 2015 cyberattack on the Bundestag.
A Threat to Democratic Values
Buechner voiced concerns over Russia's reckless cyber activities, which pose a direct challenge to international norms and merit close scrutiny, especially during an election year. He stressed that attacks on political parties, state institutions, and infrastructure crucial to public welfare endanger democracy, national security, and societal freedom.
Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, recently affirmed the GRU's involvement in last year's cyberattacks on the SPD leadership. During a visit to Australia, she stated, "Russian state hackers have targeted Germany in cyberspace," signaling that Russia should brace for "consequences."
