German security services believe a Russia-linked group was behind a fake video recently spread online alleging plans for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's resignation, a source there told AFP Friday. Merz's office told AFP in a statement that the video's claims were "completely invented" and aimed at "confusing and unnerving people". AdvertisementA security source told AFP that the "creator is probably Storm 1516", an operation linked to Russian military intelligence. The video claimed that Merz was planning to stand aside in favour of Hendrik Wuest, the CDU state premier of North Rhein-Westphalia. The video uses a common disinformation tactic in which invented claims are falsely presented as reports from established media organisations.