The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office is classifying Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) as an “undesirable organization”, according to Russian media reports.
Classification was requested by the Russian parliament, the State Duma, in August.
DW now joins several other media organizations, NGOs and foundations that have already received the “undesirable” label, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bellingcat, Corrective, Reporters Without Borders and TV Ren.
What is included in the ‘undesirable organization’ classification?
Under current Russian law, being designated an “undesirable organization” makes all association with such an organization a criminal offense punishable by heavy fines or even imprisonment.
Even sharing content from such organizations, including on social media, is illegal.
What did DW say?
DW Director General Barbara Massing said the Russian authorities’ move is another sign that the Kremlin wants to eliminate any form of freedom of opinion in the country.
“Russia may label us an undesirable organization, but that won’t stop us,” he said in a statement.
Massing said, “This latest attempt to silence independent media exposes the Russian regime’s blatant disregard for press freedom and its fear of its own citizens – who seek information, think critically and are eager to learn. DW will remain steadfast in providing journalistic content that helps people form their own opinions.”
Increasing pressure on DW in Russia
Over the past three years and more, DW has increasingly felt the effects of the Kremlin’s crackdown on all foreign-funded organizations and media.
DW has been labeled a “foreign agent” in the country since March 2022 and previously faced a broadcasting ban.
Its Moscow studio was forced to relocate, and its website was blocked in all languages throughout Russia.
DW Russian reached approximately 10 million weekly users in 2025, mostly through video content.
This makes DW Russian one of the top 10 most used services of DW. DW also produces a daily 30-minute Russian-language video news program, DW Novosti, and the Riga-produced satirical show Zapovednik remains popular.
Since March 2024, DW’s Russian-language programming is also included in the TV-Svoboda (“Freedom”) package by Reporters Without Borders. This package consists of about 20 independent Russian-language TV and radio channels, broadcast via Eutelsat-Hotbird satellites.
To avoid censorship by Russian authorities, DW has increasingly relied on digital platforms and has introduced tools such as the Tor browser, VPN access, and DW apps to bypass censorship.
“Despite censorship and blocking of our services by the Russian government, DW’s Russian-language service now reaches more people than ever before,” Massing said.
He said, “We will continue to independently report on the war of aggression against Ukraine and other topics about which there is little information available in Russia. So that people can form their own opinions.”
What is DW?
DW is Germany’s international broadcaster. As an independent media outlet, it provides unbiased news and information in 32 languages from around the world.
DW focuses on topics such as freedom and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, world trade and social justice, health education and environmental protection, technology and innovation.
DW’s TV, online and radio services reach 337 million users every week.