Moscow has warned of “retaliatory measures” against Germany after the Commission on Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) told RT it lacked permission to broadcast German language programmes in the country.
In a statement, ZAK, which holds national authority on television and radio broadcasts, said RT DE held “no other permit that is legitimate under European law” and had not been granted a licence.
RT, the former Russia Today, first began broadcasting RT DE over satellite and via its website last December, saying it had authorisation under a Serbian licence.
The Russian foreign ministry claims the ban is a political move: “This decision leaves us no choice but to take retaliatory measures against German media accredited in Russia,” it said in a statement.
Satellite transmissions lasted less than a week, at the request of the German authorities, but it is still available via smart TV and mobile apps, and online.
