‘Deutsche Welle’ refuses to participate in Russian parliamentary hearings on political interference by foreign media

The Deutsche Welle broadcasting company has refused to participate in hearings held by a State Duma committee investigating supposed foreign interference in Russia’s domestic affairs, according to a letter sent by the news agency’s head of general management, Johannes Hoffmann. In the text, Hoffmann said DW is accountable to the German authorities, and explained that there is therefore no “legal recourse” for a company representative to attend the committee’s hearings.

In mid-August, State Duma deputies voted in a special session to create a committee to investigate foreign political interference. After an unpermitted opposition march in Moscow on August 3, police officials accused foreign journalists and American diplomats of meddling in Russian domestic affairs by drawing attention to the protests, allegedly to stir civic unrest.