DW locates Moscow bureau to Latvia

Deutsche Welle (DW) is relocating the journalistic operations that were based in Moscow to Latvia following the closure of its Moscow studio and the withdrawal of its staff’s accreditation by the Russian government.

Infrastructure for DW’s broadcasting operations will be set up over the coming weeks in the capital city of Riga. Yuri Rescheto, previously DW Bureau Chief Moscow, will be head of DW’s new foreign location.

DW Director General Peter Limbourg: “We continue to take all the technical and organisational measures possible to provide our audience in Russia and around the world with critical information. We remain committed to providing independent and objective reporting. Even though our website and most social media channels have been blocked by the Putin government in recent days, people in Russia can find a variety of ways to circumvent censorship.”

DW Editor-in-Chief Manuela Kasper-Claridge: “From Germany, Ukraine, neighboring European countries and now soon also from Riga, we provide our audience in Russia with comprehensive and sustainable information about the war in Ukraine. Latvia offers geographical proximity to Russia, and the vibrant media landscape in the Baltic countries now creates optimal conditions for our team and reporting.”

On February 3, 2022, the Russian government banned DW from broadcasting in Russia, citing as a reason Germany’s ban on the German-language channel of Russian state TV network RT DE. The following day, staff at DW’s Moscow studio had to hand in their press accreditations. The Russian Foreign Ministry also announced an investigation into whether DW should be classified as a foreign agent.