German investigative media Correctiv declared 'undesirable' in Russia
Correctiv, the German investigative journalism platform, has been labeled as an 'undesirable foreign organisation' by Russia, meaning their activities in Russia are banned. Correctiv sees this as a sign their work is effective.
Moscow/Dusselorf (dpa) - The German investigative media platform Correctiv said on Tuesday it had been classified as an "undesirable foreign organiation" in Russia.
"This means that our activities in Russia are banned," Correctiv announced from its headquarters in the city of Essen. Russian citizens who have contact with Correctiv risk persecution by the authorities, and any cooperation with Correctiv is criminalised under the new classification.
"The Kremlin's reaction shows how important our work is - and that it is effective," a spokeswoman said, adding that the outlet would increase its security measures.
"Our team is researching Russian disinformation and the power structures that Putin is building in Europe - and revealing connections that were previously not publicly known," it said.
Correctiv has in fact been on the Justice Ministry blacklist since October 8. It is listed as number 270, out of a total of 276 organisations.
Claim to fame
Correctiv is best known in Germany for revealing the details of a meeting by right-wing figures outside Berlin in 2023 that triggered mass demonstrations.
On November 25, politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and individual members of the mainstream conservative Christian Democrats and others met the former head of the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria, Martin Sellner. Sellner talked about "remigration," a term used by far-right extremists to refer to the deportation of large numbers of people of foreign origin from Germany, including by force.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany following the publication of the report to protest against racism and far-right extremism.