“The Russian media in Germany operate in strict accordance with German law and high journalistic standards. We believe that German citizens deserve to receive information of interest from various sources. Moreover, Sputnik and RT, as we understand, are very popular among Germans, ”he said.
The minister regretted that there are forces in Germany that "force an atmosphere of hostility and" toxicity "around the Russian media."
“In the campaign to discredit Sputnik and RT Deutsch, representatives of the local political establishment and professional journalistic associations were noticed. Some even call for a boycott of our media and a ban on their access to cable networks. Nothing like this in our country in relation to the German media can not imagine and imagine. I think this issue should be guided by the principles of freedom of the media and non-discriminatory access of citizens to information enshrined in the UN, OSCE and other international organizations, ”Lavrov added.
Earlier in Germany, the report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Counterintelligence of the Federal Republic of Germany) for 2018 was published.
It argued that Russia is attempting to influence public opinion in Germany and the main tools of influence are RT Deutsch and Sputnik.
As stated by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commenting on the report, Moscow perceives the situation around the Russian media in Germany, including around RT and Sputnik, as discrimination.