Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council, known as RTUK, blocked VOA's Turkish-language content and DW's news sites after both international public broadcasters declined to apply for licenses as requested by the regulator.

The block affects VOA's Turkish news website amerikaninsesi.com and all of DW's language services.

In February, RTUK gave three international broadcasters, including VOA's Turkish Service, short notice to obtain broadcast licenses or have their content blocked.

Ilhan Tasci, an RTUK board member from the main opposition Republican People's Party and vocal critic of the licensing demand, announced Thursday on Twitter that access to VOA's Turkish Service and DW had been blocked by a court decision.

The heads of Voice of America and Germany's Deutsche Welle criticized actions by Turkey's media regulator to block access to their content.