German Reporter's Fake Putin-Fan Persona Exposes Russian Agent Recruitment
A German journalist posing online as a pro-Russian influencer documented how suspected Russian agents recruit helpers in Germany with Bitcoin payments. She later received threats after revealing her cover.
German journalist Angelique Geray spent several months operating a fictional online persona to investigate how suspected Russian agents recruit people in Germany. A documentary detailing the investigation aired on television network RTL in early September.
Using the alias "Katya," Geray built a pro-Russian influencer identity on social media, posting videos of herself in a striped Russian sailor shirt, expressing admiration for Vladimir Putin, and walking near the Bundestag with a Russian flag. Before long, individuals contacted her offering unspecified tasks and payment in Bitcoin.
Watching recruitment unfold
Geray and other RTL journalists were able to observe the recruitment process directly. New contacts were initially given simple tasks, such as taking a photo, picking up a package, or obtaining a SIM card. Some were later drawn into more serious operations, though these so-called "disposable agents" reportedly understood only their own narrow role and not the broader scheme.
"Katya's" online profile eventually attracted the attention of Jovica Jović, a figure associated with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance whom RTL describes as one of the most prominent names in Germany's pro-Russian scene. Jović invited "Katya" to meet in person, where he discussed his pro-Russian activities and hinted at ties to Russian intelligence. When asked directly whether Moscow's intelligence services directed his social media activity, he gave an evasive answer but indicated he effectively knew the answer "in practice." When Geray later approached him as a journalist under her real identity, he denied involvement in any pro-Russian campaign.
According to RTL, after Geray publicly revealed that "Katya" was a fabricated persona, she received a voicemail threatening her with violence.
Broader context
Suspected Russian-backed sabotage and disinformation efforts have drawn growing attention in Germany in recent weeks. The most notable recent incident was an attempted attack in Leipzig involving explosive-laden drones targeting a Ukrainian transport aircraft. German authorities formally attributed the incident to Russia and responded by closing the Russian House in Berlin and Russia's consulate in Bonn.
