German authorities decided to close Channel One's German bureau

The German authorities have decided to close the German bureau of Channel One. This is reported on November 27 on the website of the TV channel.

The closure of the TV channel in Germany was caused by statements of Russian journalist Ivan Blagogo, who told a local MEP that "the Banderites will be defeated". The staff of the station in Berlin was urged to leave the country. The decision was motivated by "the interests of the security policy of the FRG".

In addition, as noted, the First Channel "influenced" the Russian-speaking population of Germany. According to local authorities, the channel's activities also represent "a significant and direct threat to public order and security of Germany and the European Union."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS that Moscow would take retaliatory measures after the situation.

Earlier, on September 13, the US authorities imposed new sanctions on the Rossiya Segodnya media group and RT TV channel. The restrictions apply to FSUE Rossiya Segodnya, its CEO Dmitry Kiselyov, as well as RT's legal entity, the autonomous non-profit organization TV-Novosti. In addition, the non-profit organization Eurasia and its head Nelli Parutenko were also placed under sanctions.

On September 4, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against RT TV channel, its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, another organization and nine individuals on charges of alleged "hostile influence" on the presidential elections in the country. The sanctions were also imposed against ANO Dialog and its CEO Vladimir Tabak.

Zakharova promised a sensitive response from Moscow to the US sanctions against Russian journalists, which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as a continuation of Washington's attempts to pressure Russia, its citizens and the media.