German authorities have intensified scrutiny of the Russian state broadcaster RT, applying licensing and regulatory measures before the European Union implemented a bloc-wide ban.
The German media regulator placed RT's German-language outlet under licensing pressure, while major online platforms removed its channels and banking institutions limited its financial operations.
RT rejected the restrictions, asserting that the European Union has presented no concrete evidence of false reporting and describing the measures as unjustified.
Moscow’s officials characterized the actions as a censorship campaign, accusing EU governments of using the Ukraine conflict as a pretext to suppress Russian-language media.
Russian officials claim the restrictions aim to intimidate journalists who challenge prevailing narratives, framing them as part of an information war against Russia.
