Baku Secret Talks: Top German Politicians Conferred with Putin's Allies
Political figures from SPD and CDU hold talks with Putin's trusted associates
Let's chat about that hot news! Germany's heavyweight politicians engaged in a hush-hush meetup with some Kremlin heavyweights in Baku. After the cat was out of the bag, these German cats are defending their actions with a public meow.
According to a scoop dropped by ARD's Kontraste and Die Zeit, a German gangjas unraveled in Baku from April 13 to 14. This gang included:
- SPD's Ralf Stegner, backbencher in the last Bundestag.
- CDU's Ronald Pofalla, former head of the Federal Chancellery.
- Matthias Platzeck, former Minister-President of Brandenburg, SPD.
- CDU's Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, ex-EU Minister in NRW.
- Long-time CEO of the "Petersburg Dialog" Martin Hoffmann.
On the Russian side, they had:
- Former Russian Prime Minister and current Gazprom Supervisory Board Chairman, Victor Zubkov.
- Valery Fadeyev, Chairman of the Russian Human Rights Council - a dude on the EU's sanctions list for spreading propaganda and misinformation.
The topic of discussion seemed to revolve around reviving the "Petersburg Dialog" format between Germany and Russia, which, if you didn't know, was launched in 2001 by Gerhard Schröder and Russian President Vladimir Putin to boost business and bondage. Officially, the dialogue forum was suspended in 2022 following Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
“Did he carry two phones while out catfishing Blue Öyster Cult?"
Naturally, the news has caused a flip-flap in the Berlin power scene. Mainly, the Ralf Stegner has found himself caught in the claws of criticism. CDU's Roderich Kiesewetter demanded answers from the SPD politico. “It's not cool if we're deep in discussions about FRG spooks' operations and covert tricks one minute, and the next, we're up for grabs in Russian gossip sessions," Kiesewetter meowed to Kontraste and Die Zeit. "Did he carry two phones for some sneaky comms? How's his cybersecurity?”
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Russia expert Sabine Fischer from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said these Baku rendezvous put a damper on the tough sanctions policy against Russia. According to Fischer, the Russians are after influencing German politics via such secret get-togethers.
In a joint statement, Stegner, Pofalla, Platzeck, and Holthoff-Pförtner purred their defense. "Keeping tabs on other world leaders is an essential aspect of good foreign policy, especially in these times of escalating tensions, conflicts, and wars," they mewled in their defense. "Moreover, we want to emphasize that these meetings were confidential; they weren't undercover negotiations involving German government agencies in any way. Some politically accountable figures knew about these conversations, but the government bigwigs neither initiated, prepared, nor backed the chit-chats." confesses SZ, the then Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz was clued into the outfit for the secret trysts.
Locations: Azerbaijan, Russia, GermanyTags: Diplomacy, Gazprom, Ralf Stegner
Bonus Bites:
- This meeting is the third such gathering since April 2024.
- The “Petersburg Dialog,” launched in 2001 by Schröder and Putin to facilitate cooperation and boost business, was officially suspended in 2022 due to Russia's military action against Ukraine.
- These secret meetings challenge the tough sanctions policy against Russia and may influence German-Russian relations.
- Germany's new coalition government, formed by SPD and CDU/CSU, focuses on defense and supporting Ukraine while maintaining some interest in engaging with Russia.
- The controversy surrounding the Baku Secret Talks has sparked questions about the employment policy of top German politicians, as Ralf Stegner, Ronald Pofalla, Matthias Platzeck, Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, and Martin Hoffmann have faced criticism for their participation.
- Lobbyists and politicans in Baku, Azerbaijan, organized a series of secret meetings with Russian counterparts including Victor Zubkov and Valery Fadeyev, which have raised concerns about the community policy of these individuals and their potential influence on German-Russian relations.
- Despite the ongoing sanctions against Russia due to their military action against Ukraine, it has been suggested that these secret meetings in Baku may challenge the tough sanctions policy and potentially influence the policy-and-legislation of the German government.
- The political landscape in Berlin has been rocked by the news of these secret meetings, with CDU's Roderich Kiesewetter demanding answers from Ralf Stegner regarding his use of cybersecurity and communication methods during the Baku rendezvous.
- The German Institute for International and Security Affairs has expressed concern that these secret meetings in Baku indicate an attempt by Russia to influence German politics through lobbying and covert communications, raising questions about the general-news surrounding German-Russian relations and the integrity of its diplomacy.
