Germany Rebukes Russian Threats to Abduct Merz

(MENAFN) Germany has issued a forceful rebuke following inflammatory remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who suggested Chancellor Friedrich Merz could become the target of abduction operations mirroring Washington's recent capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.

Sebastian Hille, a spokesman for the German government, addressed reporters in Berlin on Monday, delivering an unequivocal response to the provocation.

"As you can imagine, we have of course taken note of these statements and, as you can also probably imagine, the federal government condemns any form of such statements and threats in the strongest possible terms," Hille declared during the press briefing.

The spokesman emphasized that Merz remains "well protected and secure" in the face of Moscow's aggressive rhetoric.

Medvedev, currently serving as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, floated the disturbing scenario on Sunday while referencing the US military operation that detained Maduro and his wife over the weekend.

"The kidnapping of the neo-Nazi Merz could be an excellent twist in this carnival of events," Medvedev stated, according to a state news agency.

The former president went further, claiming such an operation would face minimal resistance domestically, arguing "there are even grounds for prosecuting him in Germany, so it would be no loss, especially since the citizens are suffering needlessly."

Maduro and his spouse now face drug trafficking charges in New York following their Saturday detention by US forces.

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