"Today we started an official investigation," Flecken said, as quoted by the dpa agency, adding that the broadcaster has time until the end of the year to speak out on this matter."
According to the agency, the investigation may result in a complete ban on RT broadcasting in the country as well as a hefty fine (up to 500,000 euros).
This comes after earlier in the day, the Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube immediately restore access to RT's auf Sendung channel. On Thursday, YouTube blocked the RT DE channel on the same day the Russian media company launched a 24/7 news service in German to broadcast live news and talk shows from its studios in Moscow and Berlin.