Ex-German chancellor criticised for attending event at Russian embassy

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

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

Schröder and his wife, So-yeon Schröder-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.