Overview
- The Justice Ministry added Germany’s international broadcaster to its blacklist on Tuesday following public accusations from lawmaker Vasily Piskaryov of propaganda and disinformation training.
- Russian statutes criminalize involvement with blacklisted entities, with penalties of up to four years in prison for individuals and up to six years for organization leaders.
- The German government condemned the decision, saying the Kremlin fears independent information about the war in Ukraine.
- Deutsche Welle Director General Barbara Massing said the outlet will continue independent reporting despite blocks and censorship.
- The designation extends a roster now exceeding 275 organizations, and follows Russia’s 2022 closure of DW’s Moscow bureau and its labeling of the outlet as a foreign agent.