German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

We must not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by deliberately distorted images of our country - concocted by Kremlin trolls, by German right-wing extremists or by left-authority entertainers, and flooded onto the Internet by truly unscrupulous Internet oligarchs.

Oligarchs whose private wealth and financial influence on politics, frankly, exceed all previously known limits.

Let us stand our ground against this flood of manipulation and lies. I'm sure we can do it. Our democracy is not for sale. She will not give herself up to her enemies.

We are stronger than this corruption. Our Germany is a good country. Let's make sure it stays that way.