The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia will be forced to take tough measures against the German media in Russia if the FRG does not ensure the normal work of the Russian media.
This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
According to her, on February 26, the German Commerzbank sent a written notice of the closure of the accounts of the Russia Today Germany and Ruptly news agencies; access to financial transactions will be terminated from May 31.
“We seriously urge Berlin to change its mind, to ensure the normal functioning of these media companies, to cancel any restrictive measures that impede the work of the media. Otherwise, we will have to take tough measures against the German media working in Russia. I don’t want to. So let’s not create a precedent and a pretext, “Zakharova said.
She stressed that “references to which corporate rules will not be taken seriously, because it is not true.”
Russia Today posted a statement claiming that the account closings are part of a broader campaign to hinder the channel’s operations in Germany.
“Last November, Commerzbank mysteriously made its terms of service much less financially beneficial for RT by starting an ongoing legal dispute. RT is trying to replace Commerzbank, but several financial institutions including Helaba, Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, BNP Paribas, ING, HSBC, UBS, and HypoVereinsbank, either ignored RT’s requests or refused to open accounts,” RT complains.
Was any reason given for the closures? Is it anticipated that banks in other countries will do the same?