Ex-German chancellor criticised for attending event at Russian embassy

Bild publishes leaked photos showing Gerhard Schroder with his wife and others at Victory Day reception in Berlin

Leaked photographs have emerged in the German press of former chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who has refused to denounce his friendship to and business ties with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, as the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Russian embassy in Berlin.

Schroder and his wife, So-yeon Schroder-Kim, reportedly rubbed shoulders at the event on Tuesday with Egon Krenz, 86, the last Communist leader of East Germany (GDR). Krenz was forced to resign when the Berlin Wall fell, and was later sentenced to six and a half years in prison for his role in the crimes of the Communist regime, in particular the fatal shootings of people trying to escape the GDR.