Hamburg – The Hamburg Regional Court has issued a preliminary injunction against Deutsche Welle (Case No. 324 O 117/26), prohibiting the public-service international broadcaster from publishing or repeating claims suggesting that Russian businessman Roman Abramovich was involved in money laundering activities. Furthermore, the court prohibited Deutsche Welle from using a photo of Abramovich in connection with these allegations.
Background: Unsubstantiated rumor as a basis
The trigger was an article by Deutsche Welle dated January 28, 2026, titled „Money Laundering Investigation: Raid at Deutsche Bank.“
In it, the broadcaster created the impression that Abramovich could be linked to suspected money laundering in connection with a search of Deutsche Bank’s business premises by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
However, the underlying claim was based on an unsubstantiated rumor published by a German newspaper and subsequently picked up and disseminated by other media outlets without verification. Shortly after the search, the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office had already confirmed that Abramovich was not an accused party in these proceedings and that no charges were being brought against him in this matter.
Court: Personal rights violated
In its decision, the Hamburg Regional Court determined that Deutsche Welle had violated Roman Abramovich’s personal rights. The court concluded that „the requirements for permissible reporting on suspicion were not met.“
In addition, Deutsche Welle failed to confront Abramovich with the allegations prior to publication and give him the opportunity to comment — a fundamental requirement for permissible reporting on suspicion according to established German case law.
The preliminary injunction prohibits Deutsche Welle from publishing or distributing the contested statements and from using the image of Abramovich in connection with such allegations. In the event of violations, a fine of up to 250,000 euros per violation or, alternatively, detention of up to six months for the responsible executive bodies may be imposed. The costs of the proceedings were imposed on Deutsche Welle.
Lawyer: „Disturbing chain of journalistic failure“
Hamburg lawyer Joachim Nikolaus Steinhöfel, representing Abramovich, commented sharply on the decision:
„This decision reveals a disturbing chain of journalistic failure. A single newspaper put a rumor into the world, other media outlets spread it further without verification, and Deutsche Welle — the federally funded international broadcaster of the German government — failed the most elementary standard of journalistic diligence: asking the person concerned for a statement before accusing them of a serious criminal offense. When a station financed by tax money does not even comply with standards that every journalism student learns in their first year, one has to ask what German taxpayers are actually paying for here.“
Other media outlets have already conceded
Deutsche Welle is not the only broadcaster facing legal consequences in this matter. In addition to the injunction against Deutsche Welle, there is an acknowledgment judgment issued in summary proceedings before the Hamburg Regional Court against ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation).
Furthermore, NDR (for tagesschau.de) and BR have issued cease-and-desist declarations. Parallel to this, Abramovich is pursuing further proceedings against the German Press Agency (dpa). An appeal by Deutsche Welle against the decision is possible.
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