Photo: Zurab Javakhadze / TASS
The Russian authorities have prepared retaliatory steps due to the obstruction of the work of RT DE, the Russian state RT channel in German, by Germany and “American digital monopolies”, Kommersant writes, citing a “high-ranking source in government structures.” The information was confirmed by a government source. TASS.
According to Kommersant, among the measures prepared are a restriction on advertising of German companies in Russian online media, “hard penalties” for YouTube and the deprivation of Deutsche Welle broadcasting licenses in Russia.
“Either solutions must be found for RT DE and their work, as the German authorities did with respect to other media with budget funding, or retaliatory measures will be introduced,” the newspaper’s interlocutor said.
“RIA News” they add that the measures may affect German journalists working in Russia. What exactly these measures are, at the time of publication of the material is unknown.
History of the conflict
On September 28, 2021, RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan announced the removal of two German editorial channels – RT DE and Der Fehlende Part (DFP) – from YouTube without the possibility of recovery. Google explained to RBC that they were removed due to content that violated the rules on informing about the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, RT created a new channel on video hosting for relaying the TV signal, but it did not last long either.