Dispute over Ukraine comment: Kiesewetter in court!

Dispute over Ukraine comment: Kiesewetter in court!

Today, on January 16, 2026, the Ellwangen Regional Court is taking a close look at an exciting legal dispute that delves deeply into the topics of freedom of expression and personal honor. The civil lawsuit by a user of Platform X against the CDU member of the Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter is on the agenda. The specific reason for the courtroom drama? A derogatory comment by the plaintiff on a post by Kiesewetter in which he advocated for further support deliveries to Ukraine.

In his September post, Kiesewetter took a clear position and called for more help in Ukraine. However, the user of the platform replied: “You would definitely have had a career in the 3rd Reich.” This led Kiesewetter to contact the plaintiff with a legal cease and desist request, demanding that the comment be deleted and a cease and desist declaration be made. There were also demands for the payment of legal fees.

The course of the negotiation

Neither the plaintiff nor Kiesewetter himself were present at the first meeting last Friday; The lawyers were switched online for this purpose. This resulted in the plaintiff's attorney unexpectedly filing no motions, which could potentially result in a default judgment dismissing the lawsuit. However, the user does not want to give up and insists that there is no right to cease and desist. In addition, he is demanding reimbursement of legal fees that have already been paid.

Kiesewetter, who is known as an accomplished foreign policy expert and a pro-Ukraine advocate, only hit the headlines in 2023 when he was attacked and slightly injured during a CDU election stand in Aalen, his Aalen-Heidenheim constituency. These events show how tense the political discourse in Germany currently is and how severely the limits of freedom of expression are being tested.

Freedom of expression in focus

The current case also raises larger questions about freedom of expression. This is a central fundamental right in Germany, which is anchored in Article 5 of the Basic Law. According to a report discussed at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, US Vice President J.D. Vance expressed concerns that the German judiciary was increasingly inclined to criminalize expression. In particular, we are working against hate speech and offensive comments on the Internet.

In Germany, freedom of expression also fundamentally protects polemical political statements, but there are clear limits: insults, slander and racist statements are not covered by this right and can be prosecuted. Courts therefore have to be very sensitive when it comes to distinguishing between the freedom of the individual and the rights of others.

Given the current legal disputes and ongoing discussions about freedom of expression, the court's decision is eagerly awaited. It remains to be seen how the judges will interpret the criteria for freedom of expression in the context of personal attacks and what lessons can be derived from this case for future political communication in Germany.