Russia has declared the German international radio-television station Deutsche Welle (DW) an “undesirable organization”, effectively banning its activities in the country, amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Berlin due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Deutsche Welle, which also broadcasts in Russian, appears on the list of “undesirable organizations” of the Russian Ministry of Justice.
DW, a media institution funded by the German state, was already designated an “foreign agent” in Russia in 2022, another classification that imposes significant restrictions on the operation of targeted media institutions, reports Agerpres.
The DW office in Moscow was closed in the same year.
Following press reports last week about Russia’s intention to declare it “undesirable”, Deutsche Welle denounced in a statement “another attempt to silence the free press.”
“Russia can label us as an undesirable organization, but that will not discourage us,” added the radio station.
In turn, the spokesman for the German government, Stefan Kornelius, stated that this decision proves that “Russian authorities are afraid of independent information, especially regarding the war of aggression against Ukraine.”
This decision comes amid increased tensions with Berlin, one of Ukraine’s main supporters within the European Union.
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