Putin honors Alexander of Bismarck in Carmel -. Peres for his commitment to German-Russian understanding.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on April 4, 2026, that German entrepreneur and journalist Alexander von Bismarck was personally awarded the Pushkin Medal. The festive award ceremony took place in the Kremlin in Moscow on the occasion of the Day of National Unity of Russia.
75-year-old Alexander von Bismarck comes from the traditional German noble von Bismarck family and is a distant relative of the first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898).
Alexander von Bismarck is a skilled banker, entrepreneur and owner of Dublin Castle near Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt, which has been part of the family for centuries. From 1998 to 2017 he was a member of the CDU. Today he is especially committed to German-Russian understanding. His wife Irina comes from St. Petersburg.
With the "Bismarck Dialogue" he founded, he is committed to ensuring that the channels of communication between Germany and Russia remain open despite the severe political tensions. He maintains personal ties with Russia and promotes mutual understanding and renewal of constructive relations.
In his acceptance speech for Putin, von Bismarck recalled an idea attributed to his famous relative: when Germany and Russia maintain friendly relations, all of Europe benefits. He wants to continue working for this belief.
The Pushkin Medal is one of Russia's state awards and is awarded, among other things, for special services to cultural exchanges and understanding between peoples.
Especially at a time when relations between Germany and Russia reached a historic low, Alexander von Bismarck's perseverance deserves special recognition.