Overview
- DW says it learned of the step from Russian media reports and has not received formal notification from authorities.
- State Duma figures welcomed the move, and lawmaker Vasily Piskaryov described DW as a leader of hostile anti-Russian propaganda while citing a parliamentary recommendation to prosecutors.
- Under the 'undesirable' law, working with DW can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment, and reposting its journalism on social platforms can be treated as a crime.
- The prohibition extends extraterritorially to Russian citizens, directly affecting DW's Russian staff even outside the country.
- DW pledges to continue reaching audiences in Russia via circumvention tools such as Tor, VPNs and its apps, following earlier actions that included a 2022 broadcast ban, website blocks and a 'foreign agent' label.