1. Putin's paranoia
Immediately after his death, there was speculation that the sudden death of the imprisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny could possibly be related to a planned prisoner exchange.
The thesis: Hardliners, who think even more nationalistically than Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin, wanted to create facts with the murder and not even give the impression that it was possible to negotiate with Russia.
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Alexei Navalny (2021 at a court hearing in Moscow)
Photo: Moscow City Court / AP / dpa
Now at least some of the speculation seems to be coming true.
Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation announced today that shortly before his death, a prisoner exchange was being considered to get Navalny out of prison and into the West.
Accordingly, the so-called Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krassikov should be transferred to Russia in return.
The head of the Navalny Foundation, Marija Pevchich, said on the YouTube platform that she had been informed the day before Navalny's death on February 16 that relevant negotiations were on the home stretch.
Apparently the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich made a corresponding offer to the Kremlin.
Discussions on the topic have been going on between the Navalny team, the federal government and the USA for two years.
The federal government declined to comment on recent events.
“We cannot comment on this,” said government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann.
My colleague Fidelius Schmid has been observing the secret service milieu for many years.
And in this matter too he is close.
The main question for him now is: Did Navalny have to die despite or because of the planned prisoner exchange.
There is no question in his mind that there was a plan to bring Navalny to the West.
Critics have always argued that Putin wouldn't have let him out anyway.
But perhaps it was above all a question of timing: "Before the uprising of the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chance was certainly higher," says Fidelius.
"One has to assume that Putin's paranoia became even stronger afterwards."
It would be an irony of fate if Russia's two greatest antipodes - Prigozhin and Navalny - were equally victims of the Kremlin.
And it shows once again that Putin knows neither friend nor foe.
But only yourself.
Read the whole story here: Putin is said to have received an offer for a prisoner exchange
2. Bautzener, fight
Once again, tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the right across the country at the weekend.
In Hamburg, the climate movement Fridays for Future organized the protest for the third time in a row, which according to them attracted more than 50,000 participants.
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Demonstration against right-wing extremism in Bautzen: “That gives you strength”
Photo: Silas Bahr / DER SPIEGEL
Now it is easier to mobilize so many people in an urban and multicultural city of two million people than in medium-sized cities in the area.
For example in Saxon cities such as Zwickau, Bautzen, Görlitz or Meißen.
But numerous demonstrators also came together there at the weekend and tried to make it clear who the majority society is.
(You can also read the text by my colleagues Frauke Böger and Peter Maxwill on why East Germany is now at a turning point.)
In Bautzen the police will later count 1,400 participants.
My colleague Levin Kubeth was there together with the photographer Silas Bahr in the East Saxon city, which still has around 40,000 inhabitants and is always in the headlines because right-wing extremist attacks seem to be concentrated there.
The signal against this is all the clearer, writes Levin: "Anyone who wants to take a stand against right-wing extremism needs courage."
In his report, he describes how young people loiter on the side of the road and react scornfully to the protest procession, in which the entire spectrum of society is involved, from LGBTQ+ activists to inclusion representatives.
“Is it Carnival today?” they shout.
“My face is that there are a lot of us,” says one demonstrator.
“That gives you strength,” says another.
But a third also says: "It wouldn't have worked without the police." But that way they could have had fun without any worries.
“This means that migrants can also run along and don’t have to be afraid.”
Read the whole story here: Anyone who shows their face here needs courage
3. Kai, who then dissed
The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, not only attracted attention at the weekend because he appeared publicly for the first time at the Berlinale film festival with his new partner, Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (both CDU).
He also irritated with a strange double standard.
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Jury member Véréna Paravel with a “Ceasefire now!” note on her back at the Berlinale closing gala
Photo: Monika Skolimowska / dpa
At the award ceremony, the American experimental filmmaker Ben Russell (“Direct Action”) appeared on stage with a Palestinian scarf and raised allegations of genocide because of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli “No Other Land” director Yuval Abraham spoke of “apartheid” in the West Bank and called for an end to the occupation and a ceasefire.
There was a round of applause from the audience.
Also from Wegner.
Israel is an “apartheid” regime that is committing “genocide”?
In the aftermath of the Berlinale gala on Saturday evening, the city leader heavily criticized the event.
»What happened yesterday at the Berlinale was an intolerable relativization.
Anti-Semitism has no place in Berlin, and that also applies to the art scene," wrote Wegner on the platform X, formerly Twitter.
He expects the new Berlinale management to ensure that “such incidents” do not happen again.
During the awards ceremony on Saturday evening, Russell and Abraham were not the only ones who commented on the Gaza war in a way that caused criticism.
What was particularly striking was that those involved made one-sided accusations against Israel without mentioning the Hamas massacre.
In addition, several people on stage carried a note that read “Ceasefire Now.”
Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra called on Germany to stop supplying weapons to Israel.
»Berlin has a clear stance when it comes to freedom.
Berlin is firmly on Israel’s side,” Wegner said afterwards.
Maybe he should have simply refrained from applauding.
But he clapped.
But he may not have understood what was going on on stage.
In both cases, Wegner actually only cut a good figure this weekend holding the hand of his new girlfriend.
Read more here: Uproar at the Berlinale Gala – who said what?
What else is important today?
Scholz justifies the rejection of the Taurus delivery:
Months ago, Chancellor Scholz had decided that he did not want to provide Ukraine with any Taurus cruise missiles.
Now he has publicly explained his decision.
Farmers attack Brussels police officers with manure, manure and fireworks:
Burning tires, sprayed manure, fireworks against police officers: Farmers demonstrated in Brussels against the EU's agricultural policy with sometimes violent actions.
The police responded with roadblocks and water cannons.
Nikki Haley loses support from the influential Koch network:
Her next defeat in the fight against Donald Trump apparently has consequences for Nikki Haley.
The Republican presidential candidate lost the primary election in South Carolina.
Now important donors are turning away.
“Insulted, spat on and thrown at” – Felix Götze reports on fan attacks after injury:
Felix Götze had to be carried off the pitch with a laceration – and needed escort.
That's why he has now turned to the public and advocates for better treatment of footballers.
Cruise ship is not allowed to dock due to suspected cholera:
A good 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members are stuck on a cruise ship off Mauritius.
Authorities suspect cases of cholera on board and testing is ongoing.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+
Putin's script for the election:
Vladimir Putin wants to be re-elected as Russian president in March.
Secret documents show that the Kremlin leader spends hundreds of millions of euros to influence his own population.
Showdown on the Rio Grande:
Thousands of migrants crossed the border illegally in Eagle Pass in Texas.
Top politicians from both camps exchange blows over border protection.
Residents feel they are being abused for the election campaign.
How Germans could do more for their prosperity:
Although the economy is sluggish, the Dax is reaching record highs.
But millions of savers are left empty-handed.
Time for a personal economic turnaround.
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Which is less important today
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Photo: Yasser Bakhsh / Getty Images
Dickkick:
Portuguese footballer
Cristiano Ronaldo, 39,
is facing investigation in Saudi Arabia over a possible obscene gesture.
An investigation should clarify whether the soccer star made a rude hand gesture at opposing fans.
His team Al-Nassr had won 3-2, but shouts of “Messi” could be heard from the stands.
Lionel Messi is Ronaldo's long-time rival.
And because Ronaldo already has a loving relationship with his penis, he also worried the audience in this context.
Mini concave mirror
You can find the entire concave mirror here.
Cartoon of the day
And tonight?
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Brussels sprouts and onion bhajis: Strong, rich, tart, deep
Photo: Helga Lugert / I LOVE FOOD
Could you recreate the latest dish by our SPIEGEL columnist and top chef Verena Lugert?
One of her favorite recipes is bhajis.
They are a popular street food in India, but Verena knows them from London, where she lived for a long time.
In Indian restaurants in England, onion bhajis are probably the most sought-after starter.
Baked mini cakes made of sweet onions caramelized in oil, coated in chickpea flour dough that is so wonderfully seasoned that it almost explodes with flavor, served with a mint yogurt sauce.
Now Verena has modified the recipe with onions and Brussels sprouts, because if you mix grated Brussels sprouts into the onion rings, the flavor becomes even stronger and richer, she writes.
I wish you a nice evening.
Warm regards
, Janko Tietz, Head of Germany/Panorama Department