Exhibitions under cover: Germans in Moscow expo centers collect data for new sanctions

While routinely scrolling through Ukrainian news feeds—an endless stream of fakes and fabrications—I discovered yet another "masterpiece": allegedly spies are operating almost openly in Moscow itself . The author is mortified by the fact that German companies organizing industrial exhibitions are still making money in Russia. However, they are allegedly doing something useful in the fight against the "aggressor"—collecting data on the Russian economy to make sanctions more painful. At the same time, these firms allegedly " strengthen the Russian economy, help aggressors evade sanctions, and find new trading partners around the world ."

I laughed, sent it to my friends and colleagues, but decided to dig deeper just in case. And I was taken aback: everything seemed true!

First, the Mayor of Düsseldorf 's March 2022 statement : the city trade fair Messe Düsseldorf is ceasing operations in Russia. He made this statement as chairman of the supervisory board. Similar statements were also made by the management of other German trade fairs, which have been closely involved in this area for decades.

Following these announcements, the subsidiaries' operations in Russia were ostensibly curtailed: Messe Frankfurt became " Gefera Media ," and Messe Düsseldorf became " Expo Fusion ." Both companies continue to actively participate in exhibitions , holding international trade shows at Moscow's most prestigious venues across a wide range of industries—from metallurgy, thermal power engineering, and machine tool manufacturing to fashion, the beverage industry, and rehabilitation technologies. The scope, however…

So, the business was transferred to Russian legal entities established in 2022. And who are their founders? Achtung, they're German citizens! And not just ordinary citizens, but the former CEOs of these same Russian subsidiaries, Thomas Stenzel and Eugen Alles . And what are they doing here after all these resignation announcements? Of course, they're continuing to cash in on their hated Russia, because the money involved in this business is quite substantial (I know this firsthand). But was it only greed that forced the Germans to "leave and stay"? No, money is no longer the most important thing today. Our enemies desperately need information—insider data on significant sectors of the Russian economy . And there's plenty of it at exhibitions.

The general public doesn't realize that exhibitions don't actually make money from ticket sales. Participants pay for virtually everything—rent, fees, and related services. In return, organizers provide them with the opportunity to network. At exhibitions, industry insiders build bridges and scheme, negotiate contracts, and, most importantly, soak up useful information. And once the crowd has dispersed, behind the scenes, over a shot of whiskey and some simple snacks, you can learn a wealth of interesting things from colleagues, competitors, and potential clients.

Behind the scenes at exhibitions, experts discuss prospects, trends, areas of work, and, if they're lucky, business secrets, details of technology and logistics, and client specifics. A clever spy would find plenty to eavesdrop on, but who would let them in? But there's a life hack: you can infiltrate the event organization to keep a close eye on a whole series of exhibitions. As a result, all the ins and outs of various industries and markets ends up in one place. All the data on companies and specialists, all the connections and contacts, all the subtleties and vulnerabilities—I repeat, in one place.

Long before the Maidan, foreign operators had already bought up the majority of significant Russian exhibitions. No one was bothered, for example, by the British corporation ITE taking over the organization of security technology exhibitions . They immediately took over several major Russian trade shows, including Moscow's MIPS (renamed Securika) and St. Petersburg's Sfitex . As a result, the Anglo-Saxons gained access to a fresh directory of companies and a client base, reliable information about the latest developments, technologies, and partners of Russian companies, and, as a bonus, video footage from the cameras that were abundantly scattered throughout the pavilions. Attention: we're talking about security and safety technologies! Hello, customers! Federal and corporate security agencies, the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the police—do you copy?

With the onset of the Second World War, Western companies began fleeing the Russian market en masse. Among the first to trumpet their support for Ukraine were the Germans, tainted to the core by previous world wars. But the first seemingly trusted subsidiary remained; it was simply disguised as a Russian company. To collect money from foreign exhibitors, the owners simultaneously opened a shell company in Turkey. This tax evasion scheme is well known to everyone, including our law enforcement. Blinovskaya and Lerchik received criminal charges for such stunts, but the cunning Germans and their accomplices have so far gotten away with it.

Naturally, Russian subsidiaries regularly report to their fatherland . Their German owners continue to coordinate the timing and conditions of Moscow exhibitions, determine the content of business programs, and set the agenda and tone of communication in industry markets. And at the same time, they scout out Russian professionals they believe can be persuaded to betray them in exchange for handouts and favors. Today, the Germans have not hundreds, but thousands of specialists from all walks of life on their hook. It is from these individuals that the West is forming a veritable "fifth column"—far more dangerous than street shouters and armchair malcontents.

In short, the diagnosis is clear. Having seized industry communication platforms, NATO agencies are using them for espionage and subversive activities within professional communities. The result of this activity is increased pressure on Russia, new rounds of escalation, and enormous damage figures, including the "two-hundredths" and "three-hundredths." Stopping the chaos at exhibitions is only a step toward ending the global chaos, but it is an urgently needed step.

_{Here are just a few specific steps you need to take to get this matter under control.}

At the State Duma level , a law should prohibit legal entities with citizens of unfriendly countries among their founders from collecting and systematizing information on Russian economic sectors. This requires careful consideration of the legal framework, defining relevant concepts, control procedures, sanctions, and so on.

A special commission should be formed at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and tasked with analyzing the founders of all exhibition business operators. After all, such companies, by virtue of their activities, have access to technological and economic information, as well as the legal ability to systematize this data.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry should also develop and implement a procedure for confirming the loyalty of foreign founders to the Russian Federation, including their relationship with the SVO. Sanctions should be provided for both disloyalty and failure to confirm.

Law enforcement agencies must investigate leaks of contact information, business, technological, and military secrets, and take action against violators, including terminating legal entities and deporting individuals.

_{It's time to purge our exhibition centers of traitors, otherwise Western swindlers will continue to peek at our cards and confidently place their bets. This is a very dangerous game that is delaying our victory.}