Giffey calls fake Klitschko

Created: 06/25/2022, 08:38

Franziska Giffey (SPD), Governing Mayor of Berlin.

© Fabian Sommer/dpa

Berlin's Governing Mayor Giffey has fallen victim to digital manipulation.

She ran a video link with a person posing as Kyiv Mayor Klitschko.

Now the appointment is to be made up via “official channels”.

Berlin/Madrid - After a fake phone call by an alleged Vitali Klitschko with Berlin's governing mayor Franziska Giffey, the real Mayor of Kiev is hoping for a talk with the SPD politician soon.

After learning about the fake call to Giffey and Madrid Mayor José Luis Martinez-Almeida, Klitschko told the "Bild" newspaper: "I hope that we can talk on the phone via my official channels soon." Klitschko added: "I then you don't need a translator."

During a video call, Giffey had doubts as to whether she was actually connected to Kiev's mayor as planned.

The conversation then ended prematurely.

The Senate Chancellery assumes digital manipulation: "Apparently we are dealing with deep fakes," said Senate spokeswoman Lisa Frerichs.

In Madrid, too, Mayor José Luis Martinez-Almeida quickly became suspicious of the video call with the alleged mayor Klitschko and broke off the conversation, as confirmed by mayor's office spokesman Daniel Bardavío Colebrook.

A complaint was filed against unknown persons for using a false identity and the mayor's office in Kyiv was informed.

Martinez-Almeida will call the real Klitschko on Saturday.

dpa