Russia and Germany in media credentials fight
The tension around Russian forces close to Ukrainian border is spreading to the media. Russia has withdrawn the press credentials of all staff at German publisher Deutsche Welle and is shutting down the organization’s studio in Moscow. It is also taking measures to shut down DW broadcasting on Russian territory, DW itself reports.
The action comes after German Commission on Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) announced that Russian state broadcaster RT must stop broadcasting German-language programs in Germany as it “does not have the necessary broadcasting license”. The German authority said RT was using a Serbian license.
“The Russian government said it was planning to initiate a procedure to label DW a foreign media outlet performing the functions of a foreign agent”, DW reports. Branding media companies foreign agent is since long used by Russian authorities to make the operations difficult, or impossible , for unwanted media outlets.
“Responding to the ban, the German Journalists’ Association (DJV) urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately lift it and return journalists’ accreditations.
“There is no justification whatsoever for this drastic censorship measure,” said DJV chairman Frank Überall, calling the step a “cheap retaliation” for the German media regulator’s decision”, DW reports.
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