Advisor to German lawmaker steps down after allegations of working for Russian FSB

Vladimir Sergiyenko, a Ukrainian-born political strategist who was suspected of working for Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) left his position as an aide for Eugen Schmidt, a member of the German parliament and member of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, reports independent outlet The Insider, citing Schmidt’s post on Facebook.

“Vladimir Sergiyenko told me yesterday that he would cease all his activities for me. The media campaign launched against him makes it impossible for him to continue his work. Mr. Sergiyenko worked for me, helping Russian-speaking citizens who were discriminated against, individuals who have faced widespread media-induced hostility since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. I respect his decision,” wrote Schmidt.

The deputy accused the German tabloid Bild of defamation, which also published an article about Sergiyenko. He promised to take legal action against the publication.

On February 1, independent Russian outlet The Insider and German newspaper Der Spiegel published an investigation that alleged that Sergiyenko had been recruited by the FSB’s Fifth Service, which acts as the agency’s foreign intelligence arm, and that he has been in close contact with one of its officers, Colonel Ilya Vechtomov. Based on correspondence between Sergiyenko and Russian intelligence, journalists found that Sergiyenko reported his actions to a supervisor in Moscow, who coordinated his every move, and provided him with funding. Sergiyenko also reportedly persuaded the Alternative for Germany party to file a lawsuit against Germany’s Federal Consitutional Court to stop tank deliveries to Ukraine. Sergiyenko has denied all the accusations.