Kremlin threatens German media: Berlin criticizes Moscow in the dispute over RT

Kremlin threatens German media
Berlin criticizes Moscow in the dispute over RT

RT DE is struggling with its reputation as the Kremlin's propaganda tool: Many banks in Germany do not want to work with the station. Moscow sees this as a conspiracy against the medium and threatens with consequences. Foreign Minister Mass now reacts with clear words.

A Russian threat against the German media in Moscow leads to new tensions in the already badly damaged German-Russian relations. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas reacted with clear words: "The freedom of the press is not a bargaining chip. We communicated this unequivocally to the Russian side today," said the SPD politician. "Our task – and our duty – is to create the freedom framework so that journalists can do their work." State Secretary Miguel Berger also telephoned the Russian Ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Netschajew, to explain the position of the Federal Government to him.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously 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 lamented the announced closure of a bank account of RT in Germany and demanded the immediate termination of all restrictive measures for the medium. "In the other case, we are forced to take tough countermeasures for the German media working in Russia."

Maas said that the media should be able to report independently and freely about local events abroad. "It is possible in Germany, and it must be the case in Russia too," he said. "Freedom of the press and freedom of expression is a cornerstone of our democracy." The German foreign correspondents did important work on this. "That is why we are committed not only in Germany, but worldwide to ensure that the media can report freely and independently."

RT, formerly Russia Today, is repeatedly criticized in the West as the Kremlin's propaganda tool. 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.

RT speaks of an indirect "form of political pressure"

Sakharova had already criticized on March 4 that RT's previous commercial bank would close the station's account at the end of May. The Commerzbank mentioned by name did not comment on this. Dozens of German and international banks have also refused to work with RT, said Sakharova. She also alleged that a government agency called the bank and requested that the account be closed. Despite repeated inquiries, she did not give the name of the authority.

Experts have also pointed out that, given the large number of banks in Germany, it shouldn't be a problem for RT to open an account. The program director of the German broadcasting division RT DE, Alexander Korostelev, was also confident about the banking issue: "I am optimistic that we will find an alternative option." At the same time he said that he saw the work of his own editorial team in Germany being subtly impaired by an indirect "form of political pressure".

"Proper Witch Hunt"

The deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said she had no knowledge of the alleged pressure on RT DE. "Opening an account is a private business process that I cannot judge from here." In principle, the federal government holds the freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Germany very high. "There is no censorship here," said Demmer. Maria Adebahr, spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office, emphasized that the federal government had in no way influenced Commerzbank. "This is a private-sector process; the banks are free to choose their customers."

RT belongs to the Russian state group Rossija Segodnja (Russia today). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, the Russian TV broadcaster RT is represented in Germany by the three companies Ruptly GmbH, Redfish and Maffick Media. 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 broadcaster. Sakharova spoke of a "real witch hunt".

. (tagsToTranslate) Politics (t) Russia (t) Vladimir Putin (t) Kremlin (t) Heiko Maas (t) TV (t) Propaganda