The German bureau of Channel One has been banned from working in Germany. Correspondent Ivan Blagoy reported that he and cameraman Dmitrii Volkov were issued an order to leave the country in the first half of December. The decision was motivated by the interests of German security policy.
The German authorities noted that the TV channel “continues to influence the Russian-speaking population of Germany through propaganda and disinformation,” including justifying the invasion of Ukraine and inciting hatred towards its citizens by equating them with Nazis. In addition, the Russian media “propagandizes the decline of the West, the economic collapse of Europe” and promotes “other far-right narratives, causing distrust in the structures of the German state and the European Union,” the ruling said.
Blagoy noted that “10 pages of text with the justification of the decision are abundantly provided with references to EU sanctions documents”. The propagandist himself claims that neither he nor the operator violated German laws and this was allegedly confirmed by a German lawyer, whom they asked to study the order of the authorities.
Blagoy links the decision to close the station to the recent broadcast on Channel One of a story about the detention of 57-year-old German citizen Nikolai Gaiduk in the Kaliningrad region. According to the FSB version, he came to Russia from Poland “to organize sabotage activities at energy facilities”. In addition, the special service accused him of involvement in the explosion in March 2024 of the gas distribution station in Kaliningrad.
“The crew of Channel One worked in Hamburg, where the accused lived. We walked through the addresses. Showed the street where his meetings with his handler from the Ukrainian special services took place,” Blagoy said.
The channel called the German authorities’ decision to close the station “punishment for the truth and professionalism”. Earlier, a video clip of Blagoi calling Ukrainians defending the country “Banderaites” during a conversation with European Parliament member Michael Galer circulated online.
In turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova announced “retaliatory measures” that will be taken as early as November 27. The German authorities did not comment on the situation.
The EU stripped Channel One of its license back in 2022 as part of the 9th package of sanctions, its website was also blocked, but its employees were allowed to work in Europe.
