Dr. Richard Herzinger

With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Dr. Richard Herzinger — a brilliant journalist, a piercing political essayist, and a steadfast friend of Ukraine. His incisive, uncompromising, and unafraid voice will remain with us. We hope his words and convictions will echo for a long time to come.

From his Frankfurt roots to his Berlin base, Richard built a reputation not simply as a commentator but as a moral conscience for German society. He challenged prevailing winds of thought, from calling out the complacency of parts of the Left for embracing “the Russian narrative” to insisting that “Europe’s fate rises or falls with Ukraine’s sovereignty.” He was a harsh critic of right- and left-wing populists; he excoriated shallow peace-peddling illusions, decried betrayal masked as diplomacy, and reminded us that freedom and truth demand courage. He contributed to Die Zeit, Die Welt, Tagesspiegel, NZZ, Zeitschrift Internationale Politik, Perlentaucher Kulturmagazin, the Ukrainian outlet Tyzhden, and many more.

Richard did not seek popularity with soothing words. He embraced conflict, intellectual rigor, and moral clarity. His essays confronted German and European political circles with truths many found uncomfortable — and when the fashionable consensus in Germany turned cold or indifferent toward Ukraine, he stood firm. He always understood what russia is — in 2008, in 2014 — always the same reality, though in Germany he often stood alone. He warned against the Nord Stream 2 project when it was celebrated as common sense. For that courage, he was often excluded from mainstream voices and marginalized in a culture lacking consensus.

He stood for Ukraine, for a strong Eastern European region as a crucial part of a strong European legacy.

It was our great honor at Vitsche to collaborate with Richard and to share projects and ideas with him. To have worked side by side with such a penetrating mind and generous spirit was a privilege beyond measure. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Dr. Herzinger to amplify truth and reach new audiences. We are honored that Richard joined each of our demonstrations since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He was a devoted participant and contributor to almost all our public events, showing his firm commitment to supporting Ukraine.

We invite all who value free thought, who love Ukraine, who care for a strong and just Europe — to read his work, engage with his arguments, debate, and build further. The archive that holds these truths is more than a memorial — it is a fire to be kindled. We believe that Dr. Herzinger’s predictions and warnings will remain relevant for many years to come.

In each essay, column, indictment, and affirmation, Richard Herzinger’s voice remains alive — calling us to greater fidelity to truth, to courage in politics, and to solidarity with those who fight for freedom.