German journalist in Moscow faces banking restrictions amid sanctions climate

Albrecht Müller, editor of NachDenkSeiten, said he had been in contact with Moscow-based journalist Ulrich Heyden, adding that their discussion focused on the closure of Heyden’s account by his Hamburg-based bank.

Heyden said Hamburg Sparkasse had terminated his account and outlined the process in detail. “In the written explanation sent to me, it was stated that all business relationships with customers residing in Russia were being reviewed and that these relationships were being terminated,” he said.

Heyden added that a bank official provided further clarification during a phone call. “The employee told me this was linked to sanctions on Russia and said the account could be maintained if I resided in Germany,” he said.

He noted that establishing a second residence in Germany was not legally feasible. “Since I spend most of the year in Russia, registering a second residence in Germany is not legal. I explained this to them,” he said.

Transfers to Russia had already been restricted

Heyden said the bank had previously imposed various limitations. “About a year and a half ago, my ability to transfer money to Russia was removed. The account still existed, but its functionality was severely limited,” he said.

He added that the bank had described itself as a “regional bank,” using this as justification for restrictions on international transactions. “This reasoning was also included in the written explanation,” he said.

Müller asked whether journalists working in other countries had encountered similar situations. Heyden said he was not aware of comparable cases among German journalists working in Moscow for major media outlets. “There are about ten German journalists in Moscow, and I have no information that they have faced such restrictions,” he said.

“There is a political dimension”

Heyden said he had sent a letter dated March 13 to Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “In the letter, I relayed the bank’s justification and noted that I found it quite unusual,” he said.

He added that he believed the decision might have a political context. “I did not describe it as a direct political attack, but I stated that there appears to be a political background,” he said.

Heyden also pointed to similar cases involving journalists Thomas Röper and Alina Lipp, who he said had been subject to sanctions. “These two individuals face more severe measures. They are directly under European Union sanctions,” he said.

He highlighted a common thread among the three journalists. “All three advocate for a more balanced or positive relationship with Russia, and that is notable,” he said.

A narrow framework in coverage of Russia

Reflecting on his career, Heyden said he had long observed a predominantly negative portrayal of Russia in Germany. “Since the 1990s, there has consistently been a negative perspective toward Russia,” he said.

He also referred to editorial expectations. “I was often asked to focus on negative topics such as crime, plane crashes, AIDS cases and social problems,” he said.

Alternative subjects, he added, received less attention. “Topics such as the diverse peoples of Russia, witnesses who survived the war, or historical experiences were not sufficiently covered,” he said.

According to Heyden, this approach narrowed the scope of reporting. “It was as if editorial offices had predefined expectations about what kind of content on Russia was required,” he said.

Relations sharply deteriorated after 2022

Heyden assessed the weakening of civil ties between Germany and Russia in the context of the Ukraine war. “After Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in 2022, 95% of city partnerships were suspended,” he said.

He said the emotional climate during that period had been intense. “At that time, it was almost impossible to discuss events in a broader context,” he said.

Public institutions played a decisive role in this process, he added. “The termination of city partnerships largely occurred through official decisions,” he said.

He noted that some individual initiatives had continued. “Some people are trying to maintain these relations without official support,” he said.

War graves work has also slowed

Heyden said cooperation on war graves between Germany and Russia had also been affected. “After 2022, Russia significantly reduced permits for the exhumation of German soldiers’ remains,” he said.

He added that such activities had not stopped entirely but had slowed considerably. “These efforts have not completely ceased, but they have clearly lost momentum,” he said.

According to Heyden, the issue receives little attention in Germany. “The media almost never covers this topic,” he said.

He also referred to German soldiers who died in Russia during World War II. “It is estimated that around 3.5 million German soldiers lost their lives in Russia,” he said.

“I will pursue legal action”

Heyden said he would initiate legal proceedings against the bank’s decision. “Through a lawyer, I will challenge this decision and seek its reversal,” he said.

He noted that Sparkasse occupies an important position for freelancers. “Sparkasse has a certain monopolistic position, and I have been a customer of this bank for more than 30 years,” he said.

He emphasized that his relationship with the bank had been trouble-free. “Our relationship with the bank has always been evaluated positively. For this reason, the justification for the decision is unclear,” he said.

Heyden added that public attention could influence the process. “Bringing this issue into the public sphere could create a certain level of pressure,” he said.

He also relayed a remark by a bank employee. “The employee said there was pressure from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority,” he said, referring to BaFin.

“People should establish direct contact”

At the end of the interview, Heyden offered suggestions on how relations between German and Russian societies could be improved. “Establishing direct communication with Russians living in Germany could be an important step,” he said.

He added that travel to Russia remains possible. “Travel is not difficult, but it requires individual organization,” he said.

Heyden outlined travel routes. “The most common method is via Istanbul. It is also possible to travel via Serbia,” he said.

He also commented on attitudes toward foreigners in Russia. “There is a very positive approach toward Western visitors, and young people in particular are open to communication,” he said.

As an alternative, he pointed to other ways of accessing information. “Those who cannot travel should seek information about Russia from different sources and read diverse perspectives,” he said.