**Two German journalists face expulsion from Russia amid accusations of retaliatory measures over media operations in Berlin, highlighting rising tensions between the two nations.**
**Russia Expels Two German Journalists in Ongoing Media Tensions**
**Russia Expels Two German Journalists in Ongoing Media Tensions**
**Retaliation follows Germany's alleged closure of Russian state broadcaster's bureau in Berlin.**
Russia's foreign ministry announced on Wednesday the expulsion of two German journalists, a move viewed as retaliation for Germany's alleged closure of the Russian state broadcaster’s bureau in Berlin. The German government has refuted the claims, asserting that it has not initiated any closure of Channel One’s operations, emphasizing that the Russian journalists’ residency permits have merely lapsed.
Christian Wagner, spokesperson for the German foreign ministry, labeled the Russian actions as "disproportionate" during a briefing, asserting, “Russian journalists can report freely and unhindered in Germany.” Wagner highlighted that proper fulfillment of residency requirements is a necessity for all journalists, regardless of their nationality.
The tensions escalated when Channel One, state-funded by the Kremlin, accused Berlin of ordering the shutdown of its bureau, stating the correspondent Ivan Blagoy and cameraman Dmitri Rodionov have been instructed to exit the country by early December. In response, the Russian foreign ministry declared that two ARD journalists, Frank Aischmann and technician Sven Feller, would be expelled from Russia as well.
ARD, which maintains a significant operational presence in Russia, is now reportedly unable to send replacements for the expelled journalists until conditions are established for the Russian counterparts in Germany, according to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry.
Germany has accused the Kremlin of conducting extensive disinformation campaigns targeting its Russian-speaking population, underscoring concerns detailed in a recent foreign ministry report. This report pointed to Russian efforts to manipulate public discourse and undermine Western foreign policy.
Channel One has drawn scrutiny from German officials over its reporting practices and was previously condemned in 2016 for its coverage of a fabricated story pertaining to an alleged crime against a Russian-German youth in Germany.
As the geopolitical climate continues to strain, particularly since the onset of Russia's war on Ukraine, several Western nations, including those in the EU and the United States, have imposed sanctions on Russian media entities. Notably, Channel One has been barred from broadcasting across the European Union since 2022.
