The General Prosecutor's Office of Russia declared Deutsche Welle an 'undesirable organization', prohibiting cooperation with it. DW promises to continue providing independent information.

The General Prosecutor's Office of Russia has classified Deutsche Welle (DW) as an 'undesirable organization', according to Russian media, at the request of the State Duma in August. This labeling joins other media organizations and NGOs already marked, such as Radio Free Europe and Bellingcat. According to Russian legislation, cooperation with undesirable organizations is considered a crime, and distributing their content is illegal.

DW's director, Barbara Massing, condemned this measure, emphasizing that it will not deter efforts to provide free information. DW has felt increasing pressure from the Kremlin, being labeled a 'foreign agent' since March 2022 and facing website blocks and broadcasting bans. However, DW continues to reach a large number of users through digital platforms and will continue to report on critical issues, including the war in Ukraine.