{"id":2159824,"date":"2026-09-23T08:28:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T05:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2159824"},"modified":"2026-09-23T08:28:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T05:28:27","slug":"fake-videos-spread-fraud-claims-during-german-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2159824","title":{"rendered":"Fake videos spread fraud claims during German elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/35\/1200x675_cmsv2_fe21f1dc-07ca-5ba6-ba1c-61f4576a9f68-9922835.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2928178-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2928178\" data-cid=\"9925473\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928178-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/54\/73\/189x106_cmsv2_662447ac-a1d8-5c67-b5e6-f0f4c06840cc-9925473.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters. 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy calls for continued pressure on Russia at UNGA\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928056-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2928056\" data-cid=\"9925190\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928056-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/49\/09\/189x106_cmsv2_40ac2e97-a60f-5304-9b4f-dc00e1190b72-9924909.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Maricarmen, who is 87-years-old. Pictured speaking to media on the street. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928092-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2928092\" data-cid=\"9925305\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928092-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/36\/189x106_cmsv2_8b84ca08-5d39-5697-82ec-76181e56a81c-9925036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV will be visiting France from 25 to 28 September.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Day devoted to the Pope in French Catholic schools sparks controversy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927986-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927986\" data-cid=\"9924617\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927986-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/46\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_a0864b7d-4484-547d-a208-7d8e0954a403-9924617.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Ring in Athens\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Who can afford to live in Greece? The Ring in Athens\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928178-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2928178\" data-cid=\"9925473\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928178-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/54\/73\/189x106_cmsv2_662447ac-a1d8-5c67-b5e6-f0f4c06840cc-9925473.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters. 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy calls for continued pressure on Russia at UNGA\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928056-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2928056\" data-cid=\"9925190\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928056-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/49\/09\/189x106_cmsv2_40ac2e97-a60f-5304-9b4f-dc00e1190b72-9924909.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Maricarmen, who is 87-years-old. Pictured speaking to media on the street. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928092-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2928092\" data-cid=\"9925305\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928092-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/36\/189x106_cmsv2_8b84ca08-5d39-5697-82ec-76181e56a81c-9925036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV will be visiting France from 25 to 28 September.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Day devoted to the Pope in French Catholic schools sparks controversy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927986-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927986\" data-cid=\"9924617\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927986-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/46\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_a0864b7d-4484-547d-a208-7d8e0954a403-9924617.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Ring in Athens\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Who can afford to live in Greece? The Ring in Athens\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Fake videos spread fraud claims during German elections<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/35\/1536x864_cmsv2_fe21f1dc-07ca-5ba6-ba1c-61f4576a9f68-9922835.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"The posts were tied to a pro-Russian disinformation network.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              The posts were tied to a pro-Russian disinformation network.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Euronews\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspTamsin Paternoster\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1790152107\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-23 10:28:27 +02:00\">23\/09\/2026 &#8211; 10:28 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links 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alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Videos falsely claimed the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) was omitted from postal ballots or that votes were destroyed, echoing tactics previously used by the pro-Russian influence network Storm-1516.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Fake videos alleging widespread election fraud in Germany are ultimately tied to a pro-Russian influence network, which shared posts online ahead of two key elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The footage purported to show postal ballots for the AfD being destroyed or the party being omitted from ballot papers altogether. <\/p>\n<p>However, the videos, which garnered hundreds of thousands of views on X, clearly differed from official voting materials. <\/p>\n<p>Some videos were amplified by accounts known to spread pro-Russian theories and resembled false election-fraud content previously linked to Storm-1516, an influence network attributed to Russia by German intelligence. <\/p>\n<h2>Fake Berlin postal votes<\/h2>\n<p>One of the videos appears to show a man opening postal-voting documents in Berlin and cutting up ballots marked for the AfD. <\/p>\n<p>This was shared by Alina Lipp, a pro-Russian German blogger placed under EU sanctions in May 2025. The EU has accused her of spreading disinformation regarding Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine and of participating in coordinated information manipulation in support of the Kremlin.<\/p>\n<p>She claimed on X there was no evidence the video was fake, with her post gaining more than 630,000 views.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/35\/808x454_cmsv2_3b5eeed6-d324-5b1b-bce3-fce9851a8cbf-9922835.jpg\" alt=\"One of the posts sharing the misleading video\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">One of the posts sharing the misleading video<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, German election-monitoring website Wahlrecht.de found clues that the three purported postal-voting packages were fraudulent.<\/p>\n<p>To begin with, they did not contain the polling cards that voters need to return with their ballots. In addition, neither the outer electoral envelopes nor the internal ballot envelopes were sealed.<\/p>\n<p>According to Wahlrecht, the packages were missing the separate ballot papers used to elect Berlin&#8217;s district councils, while the papers for the Berlin House of Representatives were folded differently from genuine ballots, indicating it was not real. <\/p>\n<h2>AfD removed from fabricated ballots<\/h2>\n<p>A second video, shared across multiple accounts, claims to show postal ballots in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania without the AfD.<\/p>\n<p>In one video, a male narrator claims to be a pensioner from Rostock who received a suspicious ballot that did not include the party as an option in the list of parties. <\/p>\n<p>This footage was subsequently shared by multiple accounts on X, with some explicitly describing it as election fraud. Similar posts purported to show ballots from three different constituencies: 9, 11 and 33. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/35\/808x454_cmsv2_19bc3f32-1262-54fe-a92d-ccd6af2b03e4-9922835.jpg\" alt=\"Some posts claimed the AfD was omitted from ballots\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Some posts claimed the AfD was omitted from ballots<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The names of the other candidates on the supposed constituency 11 ballot match those on the official sample ballot. However, the row containing the AfD had been removed from the version displayed in the video.<\/p>\n<p>Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania&#8217;s state election chief, Christian Boden, confirmed to German news agency dpa that the AfD appeared on the genuine postal ballots.<\/p>\n<p>Election officials responsible for the other constituencies shown in the posts also confirmed that the AfD was included on their ballot papers. According to Boden, the forgeries had been closely modelled on official sample ballots, with the fields containing the AfD simply deleted. <\/p>\n<h2>Familiar Russian disinformation tactics<\/h2>\n<p>Claims of election irregularities and fraud are not new: fake videos also emerged before Germany&#8217;s 2025 federal election. <\/p>\n<p>One of these falsely claimed the AfD was missing from ballot papers in the city of Leipzig, whilst the other appeared to show ballots being destroyed. <\/p>\n<p>German authorities said the earlier videos appeared to form part of a targeted pro-Russian disinformation campaign associated with Storm-1516, which has used staged witnesses, fabricated videos and websites designed to resemble legitimate news organisations to introduce false claims into political debate.<\/p>\n<p>The latest videos repeat similar election fraud narratives and closely resemble the earlier videos, with researchers linking them to the Storm-1516 campaign. <\/p>\n<p>In December 2025, Germany&#8217;s Federal Intelligence Service described Russia as the &#8220;central actor&#8221; behind Storm-1516.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD ultimately finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, taking 38.2 per cent of the vote. <\/p>\n<p>The false narrative casts the AfD and its supporters as victims of manipulation. <\/p>\n<p>The party supports closer relations with Moscow and lifting sanctions on Russian energy, while opposing Germany&#8217;s continued military support for Ukraine. There is no evidence that the party is behind this social media campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Fake passport images claim Zelenskyy and family chose Israel as homeland<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  AI-generated &#8216;experts&#8217; make up large network of German political videos<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Russia shares AI-generated Putin selfie as use of artificial content spreads among Europe&#8217;s politicians<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Fact checking<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Germany<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Alternative for Germany<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  German election<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928112-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928112\" data-cid=\"9925371\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928112-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/53\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_fde5fe82-f1c7-5091-b65b-61329d786eca-9925371.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran&apos;s President Masoud Pezeshkian holds an image of late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the 81st session of the General Assembly at UN headquarters, 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pezeshkian tells UN Iran will not be bullied but will negotiate<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928056-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928056\" data-cid=\"9925190\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928056-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/49\/09\/320x180_cmsv2_40ac2e97-a60f-5304-9b4f-dc00e1190b72-9924909.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Maricarmen, who is 87-years-old. Pictured speaking to media on the street. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928178-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928178\" data-cid=\"9925473\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928178-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/54\/73\/320x180_cmsv2_662447ac-a1d8-5c67-b5e6-f0f4c06840cc-9925473.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters. 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy calls for continued pressure on Russia at UNGA<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928092-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928092\" data-cid=\"9925305\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928092-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_8b84ca08-5d39-5697-82ec-76181e56a81c-9925036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV will be visiting France from 25 to 28 September.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Day devoted to the Pope in French Catholic schools sparks controversy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928081-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928081\" data-cid=\"9925177\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928081-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/49\/87\/320x180_cmsv2_9e36682d-2934-5d0c-99d3-1c614fee00a1-9924987.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Russian Mi-8 helicopter crossed the Polish border.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russian military helicopter violates Polish airspace<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2927863-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927863\" data-cid=\"9924049\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    El Ni\u00f1o transforms Atacama desert as thousands of hectares burst into bloom<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2927980-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927980\" data-cid=\"9924515\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Taylor Swift announces new single \u2018Patient Zero\u2019 &#8211; 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Pictured speaking to media on the street. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928178-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928178\" data-cid=\"9925473\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928178-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/54\/73\/320x180_cmsv2_662447ac-a1d8-5c67-b5e6-f0f4c06840cc-9925473.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters. 23 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy calls for continued pressure on Russia at UNGA<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928092-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928092\" data-cid=\"9925305\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928092-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/50\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_8b84ca08-5d39-5697-82ec-76181e56a81c-9925036.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV will be visiting France from 25 to 28 September.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Day devoted to the Pope in French Catholic schools sparks controversy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928081-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928081\" data-cid=\"9925177\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928081-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/49\/87\/320x180_cmsv2_9e36682d-2934-5d0c-99d3-1c614fee00a1-9924987.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Russian Mi-8 helicopter crossed the Polish border.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russian military helicopter violates Polish airspace<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927863-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927863\" data-cid=\"9924049\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    El Ni\u00f1o transforms Atacama desert as thousands of hectares burst into bloom<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927980-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927980\" data-cid=\"9924515\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Taylor Swift announces new single \u2018Patient Zero\u2019 &#8211; and faces backlash for cover art<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927504-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927504\" data-cid=\"9922016\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Fuel taxes in Europe: Which country taxes petrol the most?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927773-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927773\" data-cid=\"9923538\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;I&#8217;m done with medical abuse&#8217;: actor Arnaud Denis dies by euthanasia in Belgium<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927726-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927726\" data-cid=\"9923181\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Exclusive: EU sounds alarm over weapons brought back from Ukraine<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Fake videos alleging widespread election fraud in Germany are ultimately tied to a pro-Russian influence network, which shared posts online ahead of two key elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.The footage purported to show postal ballots for the AfD being destroyed or the party being omitted from ballot papers altogether.\u00a0However, the videos, which garnered hundreds of thousands of views on X, clearly differed from official voting materials.\u00a0Some videos were amplified by accounts known to spread pro-Russian theories and resembled false election-fraud content previously linked to Storm-1516, an influence network attributed to Russia by German intelligence.\u00a0Fake Berlin postal votesOne of the videos appears to show a man opening postal-voting documents in Berlin and cutting up ballots marked for the AfD.\u00a0This was shared by Alina Lipp, a pro-Russian German blogger placed under EU sanctions in May 2025. The EU has accused her of spreading disinformation regarding Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine and of participating in coordinated information manipulation in support of the Kremlin.She claimed on X there was no evidence the video was fake, with her post gaining more than 630,000 views.However, German election-monitoring website Wahlrecht.de found clues that the three purported postal-voting packages were fraudulent.To begin with, they did not contain the polling cards that voters need to return with their ballots. In addition, neither the outer electoral envelopes nor the internal ballot envelopes were sealed.According to Wahlrecht, the packages were missing the separate ballot papers used to elect Berlin&#8217;s district councils, while the papers for the Berlin House of Representatives were folded differently from genuine ballots, indicating it was not real.\u00a0AfD removed from fabricated ballotsA second video, shared across multiple accounts, claims to show postal ballots in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania without the AfD.In one video, a male narrator claims to be a pensioner from Rostock who received a suspicious ballot that did not include the party as an option in the list of parties.\u00a0This footage was subsequently shared by multiple accounts on X, with some explicitly describing it as election fraud. Similar posts purported to show ballots from three different constituencies: 9, 11 and 33.\u00a0The names of the other candidates on the supposed constituency 11 ballot match those on the official sample ballot. However, the row containing the AfD had been removed from the version displayed in the video.Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania&#8217;s state election chief, Christian Boden, confirmed to German news agency dpa that the AfD appeared on the genuine postal ballots.Election officials responsible for the other constituencies shown in the posts also confirmed that the AfD was included on their ballot papers. According to Boden, the forgeries had been closely modelled on official sample ballots, with the fields containing the AfD simply deleted.\u00a0Familiar Russian disinformation tacticsClaims of election irregularities and fraud are not new: fake videos also emerged before Germany&#8217;s 2025 federal election.\u00a0One of these falsely claimed the AfD was missing from ballot papers in the city of Leipzig, whilst the other appeared to show ballots being destroyed.\u00a0German authorities said the earlier videos appeared to form part of a targeted pro-Russian disinformation campaign associated with Storm-1516, which has used staged witnesses, fabricated videos and websites designed to resemble legitimate news organisations to introduce false claims into political debate.The latest videos repeat similar election fraud narratives and closely resemble the earlier videos, with researchers linking them to the Storm-1516 campaign.\u00a0In December 2025, Germany&#8217;s Federal Intelligence Service described Russia as the &#8220;central actor&#8221; behind Storm-1516.The AfD ultimately finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, taking 38.2 per cent of the vote.\u00a0The false narrative casts the AfD and its supporters as victims of manipulation.\u00a0The party supports closer relations with Moscow and lifting sanctions on Russian energy, while opposing Germany&#8217;s continued military support for Ukraine. There is no evidence that the party is behind this social media campaign.\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/23\/fake-videos-spread-fraud-claims-during-german-elections&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/28\/35\/1200x675_cmsv2_fe21f1dc-07ca-5ba6-ba1c-61f4576a9f68-9922835.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Zelenskyy calls for continued pressure on Russia at UNGA Europe News Spain: Protests after 87-year-old woman evicted from home by force Europe News Day devoted to the Pope in French Catholic schools sparks controversy The Ring Who can afford to live in Greece? The Ring in Athens Europe News Zelenskyy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2159824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2159824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2159824\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2159824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2159824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2159824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}