DISINFO: German criticism of RT is a blatant violation of freedom of expression and democratic values
SUMMARY
Attempts to discredit RT Deutsch's journalists, most of whom are German nationals, run counter to Germany's obligations to guarantee freedom of expression and the pluralism of opinions enshrined in a number of international documents.
Berlin, by attacking the media, blatantly undermines the values of democracy, which Germany declares a priority, including outside its borders.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative trying to portray Russian outlets as champions of free speech and any criticism of their reporting as attacks on freedom of media and expression.
This claim was a reaction to a statement by the Bundestag's president Wolfgang Schaeuble who has expressed concern over the threat of foreign actors trying to meddle in the Bundestag elections this September. He mentioned RT as one example of such actors.
Schaeuble's concerns have nothing to do with attacks on freedom of expression or democratic values. On the contrary, Russian actors have been actively trying to undermine German democracy and freedom of expression by spreading disinformation.
The most famous case of disinformation pushed by Russian outlets in Germany is that of “Our Lisa”. It was about a supposed abduction and rape of an underage Russian-German girl in January 2016 by three men identified as “Muslim” or “Arab”. The groundless reports were part of a broader coordinated effort to demonise refugees in Germany to support populist and anti-migration political groups. It caused hundreds of Russian Germans to demonstrate in cities across Germany.
See similar cases that Western countries are persecuting Russian media, that there are greater guarantees of freedom of expression in Russia than in the West, and that Poland and Europe use social engineering to convince their populations that Russian media are dangerous.