Investigation ongoing
The Berlin data protection authority is examining whether the Russian House's surveillance cameras are illegally filming public streets. Outcome pending.
📷 What we know
- The Russian House operates several cameras on its building on FriedrichstraßeTAZ, April 2025 / Tages-Anzeiger, February 2026
- What would be permitted: cameras covering only the entrance area of the building itself
- What is prohibited: cameras filming public streets and pavements – that constitutes surveillance of public space by a foreign government agency
- The Berlin data protection authority is examining precisely this questionTages-Anzeiger, February 2026
- Footage from these cameras was used as evidence against Henry Lindemeier in police proceedings – possibly illegally obtained evidenceTAZ, April 2025
- The House's director, Pavel Izvolskiy, once held his smartphone directly in Lindemeier's face and filmed him for more than a minuteSZ, December 2025
🌍 What this means
- A Russian government agency – on the EU sanctions list – is possibly surveilling public space in Berlin
- These recordings could be used to identify people who visit the House – or who protest in front of it
- In a country that conducts hybrid warfare, persecutes dissidents and monitors opposition figures abroad, this is not a theoretical risk
- Russia has already had individuals surveilled in Germany – including prior to planned attacksFederal Prosecutor's Office, 2024/2025
- The illegally obtained camera footage was used by the Berlin police against a German citizen – without verifying whether it had been legally obtained
Open questions for politicians and authorities
- What exactly do the Russian House's cameras film – and since when?
- Who has access to the recordings – and are they being transmitted to Russia?
- Why did the Berlin police use evidence without verifying its legality?
- Why has no political authority ordered a review of all cameras?
- What would happen if the Goethe-Institut in Moscow were to surveil the street in front of its building?