Germany warns against dating app use with Russian links amid arrest fears

The German Federal Foreign Office is urging caution when using dating apps, particularly if someone you meet invites you to Russia. The department highlights that the actions of the services in this country are ramping up, making it easy to end up in detention or prison.

It has tightened its travel advice to Russia, "strongly" recommending against visiting due to the "continuous worsening of the situation, including an increase in arbitrary arrests."

"‘Minor things’ can be sufficient reason: a post, a picture, a comment from years ago, or simply the word 'war'. Any criticism of Putin or the Russian war against Ukraine can lead to years of imprisonment," the statement said.

"The Federal Foreign Office’s abilities in such cases are limited. Contrary to what Hollywood movies suggest, we can't just pull you out of prison. That's why you should seriously heed our travel and safety advice in Russia," the statement continued.

The department has also issued a warning about using dating apps. "Exercise caution with Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and others: new contacts might have ulterior motives," the statement advised. It highlighted that Russia is not an ideal destination for a "first date."

German journalists suggest that such warnings might be linked to the cases of several German citizens who have been detained in Russia under dubious circumstances. Recently, three people found themselves detained in such a manner. For instance, a 38-year-old German was arrested at the airport in St. Petersburg, found with gummy bears laced with cannabis.

According to "Die Welt", it's highly plausible that the Kremlin is looking to take "hostages" to exchange for Russian citizens detained abroad, including in Germany.