Broadcaster does not find a bank: Kremlin threatens to deal with RT Deutsch

Wednesday 17th March 2021

Sender cannot find a bank
Kremlin threatens to deal with RT German

RT Deutsch is regarded as the Russian government's propaganda tool. Now the broadcaster apparently has a problem. German banks apparently do not want to work with the medium. Now the Kremlin is calling on the federal government to act – and at the same time threatening consequences.

Russia has complained about restrictions on its state medium RT in Germany and, in return, threatened German media accredited in Moscow with consequences. "We call on Berlin with all seriousness to ensure the normal functioning of RT," said the spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Maria Sakharova, in Moscow.

She complained that banks would refuse to open a business account for RT under pressure from the German authorities. All restrictive measures for the medium must be ended immediately. "In the other case we are forced to take tough countermeasures for the German media working in Russia."

RT, formerly Russia Today, is repeatedly criticized in the West as the Kremlin's propaganda instrument for spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation on behalf of the Russian state. Sakharova did not say what specific steps are planned against the German media in Russia. "We still hope for an amicable solution." The aim is to avoid escalation. So far, Berlin has not responded to the criticism from Moscow regarding the handling of RT in Germany, complained the ministry spokeswoman.

Russia criticizes that RT's previous commercial bank will close its account at the end of May. Dozens of German and international banks have also refused to work with RT, said Sakharova. RT belongs to the Russian state group Rossija Segodnja (Russia today).

Russia complains of an increase in political pressure since RT DE recently announced that it would expand the program that was previously available on the Internet after six years of preparation into a fully-fledged German-language TV station. In December, RT DE wanted to go live in Berlin, it was said. According to reports, there is no license for this.