Russian MPs propose ban on German state media
Russian lawmakers have proposed a ban on the activities of German media corporation Deutsche Welle (DW) in the country. The broadcaster was previously placed on Moscow’s list of foreign agents.
The move was announced on Tuesday by Vasily Piskaryov, head of the State Duma committee on foreign interference in domestic affairs, who wrote on Telegram that the proposal will now be filed with the Prosecutor General’s Office.
“We have prepared materials … on the participation of a number of such structures in subversive anti-Russian activities,” stated Piskaryov, who is an MP for the ruling United Russia party.
“We propose to include in the ‘expulsion’ package, among others, the British Council, which carries out intelligence activities in the Russian Federation under the guise of humanitarian projects, and the media corporation Deutsche Welle, which not only actively churns out information saboteurs, including Russian journalists, but also carries out other anti-Russian media campaigns,” Piskaryov said.
“We propose to ban them from any activity in Russia,” the MP added, noting that this includes blocking accounts, closing branches and offices, and banning the distribution of information materials. “For those who continue or establish cooperation with them [banned organizations], administrative and criminal liability is envisaged,” warned Piskaryov.
On Monday, a law entered force in Russia that recognizes foreign organizations founded by foreign government agencies as undesirable.
The Russian authorities banned DW from broadcasting in the country in February. The following month, Russia’s Justice Ministry announced that it considers the broadcaster a “foreign agent.”
Russian law requires organizations that receive support from outside the country or are under foreign influence to register and declare themselves as foreign agents. Those considered foreign agents are obliged to indicate their status in all publications, including posts on social media. They also have to file financial statements and reports on their activities with the government every six months and undergo annual audits.
The British Council – the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities – suspended operations in Russia in 2018 on the instruction of the Russian Foreign Ministry, amid growing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
