Russia accuses Berlin of closing state TV office

Moscow announced on Wednesday that Berlin had ordered “the closing of the office” of the Russian state television channel Pervy Kanal, and promised retaliatory measures during the day, paving the way for the expulsion of an equivalent German media outlet from the country. The correspondent of Pervy Kanal in Berlin, Ivan Blagoi, announced on the air, in a five-minute topic, this decision by Berlin, affirming that a document from the German authorities presents the Russian media as a threat to the security of the country and as a dangerous organ of propaganda, while millions of Russian speakers live on German territory.

“During the first half of December, Ivan Blagoi and (cameraman) Dmitry Volkov will have to leave the territory of the Federal Republic of'Germany »he said. “It is clear that we will continue to fight for the rights of our journalists, and we will use any means necessary. But if there is no change (…), we will have to reciprocate”responded Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grouchko to the official Ria Novosti news agency.

“Retaliatory measures will be announced today”

Earlier, the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, told the other state press agency, Tass, that “retaliatory measures will be announced today”. Around twenty German media are accredited in Russia, according to the Russian ministry's website. Moscow says it always reacts proportionately to sanctions targeting its media. She could therefore in return order the closure of a German media present in Russia, and target for example a public television channel, such as ARD or ZDF. In February 2022, just before its assault on Ukraine, Russia closed the German international radio and television station Deutsche Welle in response to the ban on broadcasting of the Russian channel RT, widely considered in Europe as an organ of disinformation and Kremlin propaganda.

Since its assault, Moscow has increased pressure on Western journalists in the country, limiting the number of visas granted and requiring renewal every three months. Several Western reporters had to leave the country, while the American Evan Gershkovich spent more than a year in prison before being released in a prisoner exchange. Many independent Russian journalists have mostly had to flee the country, and others have been imprisoned or classified “foreign agents”.

Pervy Kanal, which means “First Channel” in Russian, is one of the most virulent media in its defense of the conflict triggered by the Kremlin in Ukraine. Many personalities there hammer out an anti-Western discourse and call for nuclear strikes against the West. The channel is run by Konstantin Ernst, who is subject to European sanctions. He is a central figure in the Russian media landscape, helping to build the image of Vladimir Putin, in particular by staging major ceremonies illustrating the omnipotence of the Russian president, such as his inauguration ceremonies or military parades.