The AfD politician kept a Russian army gadget in his office. He tried to block the broadcast of the material

The situation occurred in Tillschneider's parliamentary office in Querfurt during the recording of a reportage devoted to the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

The 48-year-old AfD politician was to show the team around the rooms and show various memorabilia. They included a black mug with a red star and the Russian inscription "Armija Rossii", i.e. "Army of Russia". Souvenirs from other armies, such as the Bundeswehr, were not present in the office, "Bild" emphasized.

When asked by Bild's deputy editor-in-chief Paul Ronzheimer why he kept a gadget related to the Russian armed forces in his office, Tillschneider replied that the mug "just sits there", there is nothing special about it and he received it as a gift.

An attempt to stop emissions

Later, the politician was said to have reacted more nervously. According to "Bild", he demanded that the journalist stop asking about the cup.

After the recordings were completed, Tillschneider, through his lawyer, sought a ban on the publication of the material shot in his office. The portal did not provide information whether this attempt was successful.

According to "Bild", identical mugs are available in the Russian military online store of the "Armija Rossii" brand. The store lists the Russian Ministry of Defense as an official partner.

The politician denies solidarity with the Russian army, but has a special attitude towards Putin

Tillschneider rejected the suggestion that owning the mug signified solidarity with the Russian armed forces.

However, Bild reminds that the politician is considered one of the most pro-Russian wing of the AfD. A few months after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he traveled to Russia, but had to interrupt the trip after criticism from the party authorities. In October 2025, he attended a party celebrating Vladimir Putin's birthday at the Russian embassy in Berlin.