Issue of Deutsche Welle operating in Russia could be solved by replacing company's Russian director - Duma commission member
MOSCOW. Nov 6 (Interfax) - The head of the Deutsche Welle department for Russia could be replaced to ensure proper operation of the television and radio broadcasting company in Russia, according to Adalbi Shkhagoshev, deputy head of the United Russia faction and a member of the Duma commission which investigates foreign interference in Russia's domestic affairs.
"If Deutsche Welle did indeed, as [Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov said and Deutsche Welle representatives admitted at a meeting with [the ministry's spokesperson Maria] Zakharova, acted not entirely correctly, it means the policy of the Russian directorate, Director Ingo Mannteufel runs counter, and so this issue can be solved by simply replacing him," Shkhagoshev told Interfax on Wednesday.
This would be a "compromise solution," he said.
Earlier Shkhagoshev said that he had drafted and submitted for consideration by the faction's experts amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and to the law which guarantees citizens' electoral rights, proposing that foreign media outlets and big tech such as Google, Facebook and Youtube, be fined 2.3 - 3.5 million rubles or 4% of their total turnover for violating Russian legislation during an election period.