Ukraine – Ukrainian entrepreneur and former world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has called on Switzerland to ban Russian state media. Anti-Ukrainian propaganda runs there. “The brainwashing also takes place in Switzerland,” he said in an interview.
“It’s very important that Switzerland doesn’t just stand passively on the sidelines,” said the 46-year-old, who has a doctorate in sports science, to “Blick” (Monday edition) on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. “If she passively stands by and watches, she’ll have blood on her hands too.” Russia must be isolated economically and in every other way, said the younger brother of Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko.
The worst weapon in war is the media, Klitschko said. “If I turn on the TV in Switzerland today and watch Russian channels, I hear that all Ukrainians are Nazis and fascists. That Ukraine is a mistake in history – and that Russia will rewrite this history. I hear that here on TV!”
Unlike the EU, Switzerland does not prohibit the distribution of Russian state media. The affected channels “RT” (formerly “Russia Today”) and “Sputnik” are “tools of targeted disinformation by the Russian Federation” for the Federal Council, but it is more effective, untrue and harmful statements to counteract with facts instead of them ban, announced the Federal Council at the end of March. Business Minister Guy Parmelin said a ban could be construed as censorship.
The two major Swiss telecom providers Swisscom and Sunrise UPC decided at the beginning of March to stop broadcasting the Russian state broadcaster “RT” with immediate effect and until further notice.
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