East StratCom disinformation claim:

The German tabloid Bild claims that Putin was behind the Cologne sexual assault attacks last year. This is proof that Western media are demonising Vladimir Putin.

Documentation for claim

Ten Putin jeden prohnaný! Německý tisk „vypátral“, jak by jedním povelem mohl zničit Merkelovou. Stojí za to číst | ParlamentniListy.cz – politika ze všech stran
published by Úvodní strana | ParlamentniListy.cz – politika ze všech stran

Period/date: 14. December 2016

Debunk claim:

Wrong translation from the English source (http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/742970/Putin-ordering-migrant-sex-attacks-oust-Angela-Merkel-German-tabloid). According to Express.co.uk, an expert said to Bild that Putin could create such incidents in the future in order to influence German elections.

Documentation for the debunk

Shock claim: Putin’s ordering migrant sex attacks to oust Merkel' | World | News | Express.co.uk
published by Latest UK and World News, Sport and Comment | Daily Express

Additional information

This information is reported by Kremlin Watch (European Values think-tank), http:, wwweuropeanvalues net/kremlinwatch/ in Disinformation Review issue 52. The item is located at row number 34 in the report.

Click to view the source material, or here to view all reports from issue 52.