"Will certainly give a reaction from the Russian side": After restrictions for RT, the focus is on German media

Created: 01/02/2022, 10:17 AM

The logo of the Russian state TV broadcaster RT can be seen in the window of the company office.

(Archive image) © Pavel Golovkin / dpa

Again there is an uproar over the Russian state broadcaster RT.

The Russian ambassador announced a reaction.

It could hit German journalists.

Berlin - The Russian ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Netschajew, has announced a reaction to the restrictions on the Russian state broadcaster RT in Germany.

In an interview with the German Press Agency, he made it clear that this could affect German journalists in Russia.

"There will certainly be a reaction from the Russian side," said Nechayev when asked about possible consequences for the German media in Russia.

“I'm not an Oracle from Delphi, but there are several options.

There are so many German journalists in Russia. "

All of these journalists felt comfortable in the Russian media market, said Nechayev.

“And we don't really want a conflict.

We just want our station in Germany to have the same rights and opportunities and to be able to work quietly. "

After restrictions on RT: how does Russia react?

When asked whether it could hit the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which has a Russian-language program, Nechayev said: “There is no automatism.

I don't want to anticipate anything.

I still hope that there is no more pressure on RT in Germany. "

In mid-December, RT started its German-language live program RT DE via various distribution channels.

After a few hours, YouTube blocked the channel on its platform and relied on community guidelines.

The media regulators in Berlin initiated proceedings against RT the day after.

As a result, the satellite operator Eutelsat stopped broadcasting RT DE shortly before Christmas.

Background of the RT decision - Broadcasters in the West as a propaganda instrument of the Kremlin under criticism

The background to the decision is that German regulators have not issued a broadcasting license for the broadcast.

RT relies on a Serbian broadcast license.

An earlier attempt by the broadcaster to get a license via Luxembourg had also failed.

RT is repeatedly criticized in the West as the Kremlin's propaganda tool.

Central allegation: The station spreads conspiracy theories and disinformation on behalf of the Russian state.

RT rejects that.

The broadcaster has several foreign language programs in its portfolio.

RT DE has been offering online reports in German for a long time.

The content is disseminated via the website and social media.