German Spy Agency Opens Hotline for Exiled Russians

By Reuters Aug. 20, 2026 REUTERS / Thilo Schmuelgen Germany's domestic intelligence agency has established a dedicated hotline for exile groups and political dissidents facing intimidation, surveillance or physical violence from foreign operatives inside the country, with a key focus on threats emanating from Russia alongside countries like Iran and China. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) on Thursday published a brochure advertising the hotline for individuals who have sought refuge in Germany from authoritarian governments. Under the initiative, victims of state-sponsored harassment are encouraged to report incidents to help intelligence analysts identify, map and counter foreign operative networks operating in Europe. The BfV indicated in the brochure that information provided by affected individuals could directly assist ongoing investigations and potentially help thwart active threats. "Through both its own investigations and information provided by the individuals concerned, the domestic intelligence service is able to track down those responsible," a section in the 16-page brochure reads. The hotline's launch comes as Germany seeks to grant intelligence services new powers to hack communications and disrupt the operations of foreign adversaries to counter what officials have described as a growing threat from cyber and hybrid attacks. Read more about: Germany Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow ‘Not Ruling Out’ Nuclear Deployment Amid U.S. Plans for Weapons in Germany The Kremlin warned over the weekend that the deployment of American missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets for Russian missiles. 2 Min read What We Know About Leaked German Army Audio Recording The recording has caused a diplomatic firestorm, with Russia declaring it proves direct involvement of Western countries in the conflict in Ukraine. 3 Min read Germany Denies Moscow Summoned Ambassador Over Leaked Audio In the leaked recording, German military officers could be heard discussing how German-made Taurus missiles could be used by Ukraine. 1 Min read Germany Accuses Putin of Seeking to 'Destabilize' With Wiretap Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the leak of a confidential German army discussion on Russian social media part of Putin's "information war." 2 Min read