Russia Retaliates, Bans German International Broadcaster DW
Russia said on Thursday that it would ban German international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, closing its Moscow bureau and revoking the accreditation of its journalists. The Russian foreign ministry disclosed this in Moscow.
Moscow’s move is retaliation for a German regulator’s ruling earlier on Wednesday that blocked broadcasts of Russian TV channel RT DE. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has blasted the ruling which it described as “nothing less than an attack on freedom of speech.’’
The Commission for Licensing and Supervision (ZAK), which is responsible for regulating media outlets in Germany, had banned the German language RT DE channel from broadcasting in the country, citing its lack of a broadcasting licence.
RT, formerly Russia Today broadcasts internationally in six languages and claims that its German-language programming contributes to the diversity of opinion in Europe.
Critics meanwhile accuse RT of being a Kremlin mouthpiece used to disseminate propaganda and disinformation. Deutsche Welle, or DW, is a German state-owned 24-hour news channel funded by the federal tax budget, it airs programming in German, English, Spanish and Arabic.
Deutsche Welle to lodge legal challenge against Russian broadcast ban
However, DW said on Thursday said that it planned to take legal action against a Russian ban.
“The measures of the Russian authorities are in no way comprehensible and a complete overreaction,’’ said Peter Limbourg, director-general of the taxpayer-funded broadcaster. He said the Russian decision turned Deutsche Welle into a pawn in a way typical of autocratic states.
“We protest fully against this absurd reaction of the Russian government and will take legal action against the announced measures,’’ Limbourg added.
“Until the measures are officially communicated with us, we will continue to report from our office in Moscow.’’
The DW boss said that even if the bureau was forced to close, this would not weaken coverage. In fact, he spoke of a bolstered focus on the region. #Russia Retaliates, Bans German International Broadcaster DW
