German Authorities Warn Ministers About Putin's Pranksters
Cologne/Hamburg -
Delve into the world of notorious internet comedians Vladimir Kusnetsov (37) and Aleksey Stolyarov (36), who have earned a reputation as Putin's loyal jesters. Operating under the alias identities "Vovan and Lexus", they've made a name for themselves by deceiving and mocking ("pranking") numerous politicians through fake video calls in the past.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has issued a warning, emphasizing its relevance to ongoing preventative measures against a current Russian disinformation campaign. The Kremlin has been leveraging "Vovan and Lexus's" false calls as propaganda.
The constitutional protectors recommend the following precautions for ministers:
- Verify the identity of callers.
- Be cautious of modified email addresses.
- Break off calls as soon as there's any doubt about the caller's identity.
The list of their prank victims extends from Mikhail Gorbachev (91) to Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (46).
Even the famed climate activist, Greta Thunberg (20), fell prey to the Russians’ imitations. During the 2020 US election campaign, both Joe Biden (80) and his running mate, Kamala Harris (59), were persuaded by their lavish imitations.
Harris was deceived into believing that incriminating evidence against then-US President Trump (77) existed.
- German authorities have issued a warning to all ministers, cautioning them against falling victim to prank calls from Russian comedians Vladimir Kusnetsov and Aleksey Stolyarov operating under aliases "Vovan and Lexus".
- Their antics have previously targeted high-profile politicians like US President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, as part of the Russian disinformation campaign.
- To protect against such tactics, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution advises ministers to verify caller identities, watch for modified email addresses, and end calls with suspicion.
- Notable victims of this comedic duo's pranks include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and even Fridays for Future's Greta Thunberg, illustrating their broad influence.
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Enrichment Data:
Though Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has not issued a specific warning regarding "Vovan and Lexus" in relation to the 2025 Bundestag elections, it has voiced concerns over broader threats of foreign influence, disinformation, and sabotage. These activities, primarily from Russia and other authoritarian states, aim to disrupt German democratic processes and institutions.
Despite the lack of explicit mention in the available sources, the topic of "Vovan and Lexus" aligns with these broader concerns since their deceptive practices and influence on public opinion contribute to the disinformation landscape, posing potential risks to democratic processes.
