TVMonde has removed its services from Russia and is no longer distributed by operators in the country.
It follows last Friday’s introduction of a new law that criminalises aspects of independent journalism and a punishment of up to 15 years in prison for the distribution of any information considered knowingly false.
Canal+ International, via its subsidiary Thema Russia, requested the French international channel blackout all its news including those of from partner channels France Télévisions, Radio Canada, RTBF, RTS, ARTE France.
The broadcaster, which features Russian subtitles, still has a reach of 1.7 million households thanks to our broadcast via the Eutelsat Hot Bird neighbourhood that also reaches Ukraine and Belarus.