A Cold Shoulder from Berlin: Russia's Retaliation against Germany's Treatment of Russian Media
Russian Authorities Direct German Diplomat Accredited in U.S. to Report Back
Moscow/Berlin - In the ongoing feud over the treatment of Russian state media personnel in Germany, the German ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, has received a frosty invitation. The Russian Foreign Ministry has decided to enlighten him about retaliatory measures in response to the alleged mistreatment of Russian journalists. A spokesperson for the ministry broke the news to the state-owned Russian news agency Tass.
According to Russian media outlets, this reprisal concerns an employee of a Russian state media conglomerate who is questions about his future in Germany. The Berlin Office for Immigration confirmed that the individual’s application for an extension of his expired residence permit was rejected[1][2][3]. Additionally, the passports of his wife and daughter have been seized, a spokesperson disclosed upon request.
Reports suggest that the authorities demand that the Russian and his family vacate the Federal Republic by no later than August 19th[3]. The backdrop is the European Council placing the media group on the EU sanctions list as early as February 2023.
Russia's Threat to German Journalists
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed frustration the day before, claiming that everything possible would be done in Germany to make Russian journalists leave the country. She insisted that Germany was negligent in fulfilling its obligations to safeguard press freedom and diverse viewpoints. Zakharova had announced the summoning of Lambsdorff, as well as forthcoming "countermeasures".
Ad Opportunity: Same week, Zakharova also hinted at sanctions against German journalists during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum[3][4].
Since November 2024, Russia has ejected two ARD employees due to similar disagreements. Before that, the residence permit of two men working for Russian state television in Berlin was not renewed[4].
A Slap on the Wrist: What Ambassador Summonings Mean
Formally summoning an ambassador is a diplomatic way of expressing disapproval and signaling displeasure.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) shared his initial thoughts following a meeting with Austria's head of government Christian Stocker: "I am yet to appraise the summoning of the German ambassador to Moscow." He had yet to receive a report on the matter and had merely taken note of it[3]. The Foreign Office remained mum on the issue.
So, what’s next? While the specifics of Russia’s countermeasures are still murky, it is evident that the media tensions between Russia and Germany are escalating, potentially affecting journalists and media outlets on either side[1][3][4]. Stay tuned as the situation unfolds.
Insight: Russia’s announcement of retaliatory measures follows its accusations of Germany's treatment of Russian journalists as unfair and unacceptable. The dispute forms part of the wider estrangement between Russia and Europe, especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine[2]. Both sides have restricted access to and barred media outlets, with Germany and the EU banning Russian state media like RT, while Russia has blocked dozens of Western outlets.
[1] Moscow Times (2025). Russia Summons German Ambassador over Treatment of Journalists. Retrieved from https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/06/27/russia-summons-german-ambassador-over-treatment-of-journalists-a72112
[2] CNN (2025). Russia-Germany media tensions escalate after journalist expulsions. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/world/europe/2025/07/01/russia-germany-media-tensions-escalate-james-griffiths/index.html
[3] Deutsche Welle (2025). Russia Threatens Consequences for German Journalists. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/russia-threatens-consequences-for-german-journalists/a-72116181
[4] Reuters (2025). Russia Threatens to Evict German Media over Treatment of Russian Journalists. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-threatens-evict-german-media-over-treatment-russian-journalists-2025-06-27/
| Action Taken by Russia | Description ||--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| Summons of German Ambassador | Official notification of retaliatory measures against Germany's treatment of Russian journalists[1][2][3] || Selection of Targets | Identification of German correspondents in Moscow for potential retaliation[3][4] || Potential Measures | Expulsion, restrictions on reporting, administrative hurdles[2][4] |
Quotes:
Russia might respond to the alleged mistreatment of Russian journalists in Germany by imposing restrictions on German journalists in Russia, as hinted by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. This could potentially include expulsions or administrative hurdles, following the refusal to renew the residence permits of certain individuals.
The ongoing feud over the treatment of Russian state media personnel in Germany is escalating, with the rejection of an extension for a Russian media conglomerate employee's residence permit and the seizure of his family's passports. This could be part of the broader retaliatory measures mentioned by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
