Putin's Visit to Mongolia: Western Media Accused of Ignoring Uncomfortable Facts

Russian Media Ban

Recently, over 90 journalists and media entities were banned from Russia by the government. This move followed the Kremlin's investigations into American and Italian TV crews, including CNN, for their involvement with the Ukrainian army in Kursk Oblast.

The list of blacklisted Americans, published last week, includes Wall Street Journal Editor in Chief Emma Tucker and eleven current and former WSJ staff members. The New York Times and The Washington Post also had journalists affected, including Kyiv Bureau Chief Andrew Kramer and four reporters from the Post.

Putin's Response

During his visit to Mongolia for the anniversary commemoration of the 1939 Soviet-Mongolian victory over Japan in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked about press freedoms and the state of Western media. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague had requested Mongolia to arrest Putin, but the country refused. Moscow assured that this had been arranged beforehand and would not pose an issue.

Putin was interviewed by the Mongolian newspaper Onoodor before his arrival in the country. He expressed that the West tends to ignore uncomfortable facts, dismissing them as "propaganda".

Justified Response

Putin explained that the Kremlin's recent actions against major American news outlets are a justified response to the West's earlier punitive measures against Russian media. He stated that Western countries, where Russian journalists try to work, create obstacles for them, ban Russian television channels, and directly censor Russian media and online resources. Putin emphasized that such actions contradict the democratic principles of freedom of speech and the free flow of information.

He continued by saying that the West, which professes to be a model of freedom, has chosen to hide from uncomfortable facts and the truth by launching a bullying campaign against Russian journalists and indiscriminately labeling them as 'Kremlin propagandists.'

Impact on Russian Media

In March 2022, following pressure from the US government, including labeling the channel as a foreign agent, major platforms like DirecTV and Roku dropped the channel. This led to RT America laying off all of its mostly American staff and closing its four main US offices. The European Union also took action against RT and Sputnik, and RT was further removed from YouTube.

The result of these actions was that people in the West, including academics, journalists, politicians, and individual citizens, were no longer exposed to the Russian perspective. It also became more difficult to access Russian statements on world events. This appeared to be a deliberate move, further narrowing the scope of 'alternative views'.

Balance Between Press Freedoms and National Security

However, Putin asserted that his government maintains a proper balance between press freedoms and national security issues. He stated that Russian authorities cooperate constructively with television channels, news agencies, newspapers, online media, and other media outlets, regardless of their editorial policy. The only requirement is that they comply with Russian laws, which should be understood by foreign journalists accredited in Russia.

Putin argued that through these means, Moscow has managed to strike a balance between the freedom of the press and national security.

Illegal Border Crossing

Putin's comments referred to the CNN crew (and others) who 'illegally' crossed Russian borders to film the Ukrainian army's incursion into Kursk in late August. The Kremlin stated at the time that it had summoned the US ambassador in relation to the provocative actions of American reporters who illegally entered the Kursk region to produce propaganda for covering up the crimes of the Kyiv regime.

Putin suggested that the United States would not tolerate Russian journalists illegally entering American soil, and Russia would not tolerate the opposite scenario, which recently occurred.

Bottom Line

It's clear that the issue of press freedom and the role of media in international relations is complex and fraught with contention. Putin's comments highlight the tensions between the need for open reporting and the protection of national security. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you agree with Putin's perspective, or do you see things differently? Share this article with your friends and let's get the conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.