Russia Promises Retaliatory Measures Against US Media Following RT Sanctions

US Sanctions on Russian State Media Entities

On Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced new sanctions against Russian state media entities, specifically targeting the media network RT. The network is accused of conspiring to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Garland stated that the American public has a right to be aware when a foreign power is attempting to manipulate the free exchange of ideas in the US to disseminate its own propaganda.

Russia's Response to the Sanctions

In response to these sanctions, Russia announced on Friday that it will be imposing new restrictions on American media. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency, stating that a similar response is not possible as the US does not have a state news agency or a state TV channel. However, he assured that new measures targeting American media will be implemented.

US Propaganda Channels Abroad

It is widely recognized in Moscow that Washington directly sponsors foreign propaganda channels abroad, such as the state-run Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The latter was managed by the CIA until the 1970s, after which the State Department took over. These US-funded entities were labeled as foreign agents in Russia in 2017 and were banned from Russia entirely in 2022. These stations, remnants of the Cold War era, disseminated the American perspective of international events as part of soft power. Moscow now plans to continue targeting private media entities operating in Russia.

New Restrictions on American Media

Peskov further elaborated on the fresh announcement, stating that measures will be implemented to restrict the dissemination of information by their media. The new target list for US government sanctions includes RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Elizaveta Brodskaia.

Putin's Statement on Western Reporters

Earlier this week, during his visit to Mongolia, a regional ally of Russia, President Putin told the newspaper Onoodor that the West, which considers itself a beacon of freedom, has initiated an open persecution against Russian correspondents to avoid inconvenient facts and truthful information. Despite the recent addition of nearly a hundred more journalists and entities to Russia's growing blacklist, including members of The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, Putin stated that Western reporters who comply with Russian law have nothing to fear. He emphasized that the only requirement for them is to comply with Russian legislation and that foreign correspondents accredited in Russia should understand this.

Bottom Line

The ongoing tension between Russia and the US, especially in the realm of media and information dissemination, is a complex issue with significant implications for international relations and the global media landscape. It raises questions about the role of state-sponsored media in shaping public opinion and the extent to which governments should intervene. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and engage in a discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, available every day at 6 pm.