DISINFO: Freedom of press is higher in Russia than in France
SUMMARY
A French journalist from the LCI TV Channel freely asked Putin a question in Moscow. And Russian journalists? They are persona non grata in France. Which side does democracy stand on?
RESPONSE
The claim is an attempt to exploit Vladimir Putin’s annual direct line to portray Russia as a beacon of freedom of speech in contrast to a supposed lack of liberties in the West. See our article Controlled questions, crafted lies: inside Putin’s year-end messaging machine.
Putin’s annual Q&A is a carefully orchestrated propagandistic event where questions are vetted in advance. Calling it an expression of 'genuine democracy' and 'receptiveness of criticism' is preposterous, as Russia is in position 171 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Ranking 2025 of Reporters Without Borders, a historical negative record. Scores of journalists have been killed in Russia since Putin came to power and hundreds have been arrested. In 2025, Russia’s press freedom is in a dire situation: all privately owned independent TV channels are banned and most independent news sites have been censored or forced into exile, with some of them having been declared “undesirable organisations”.
Similarly, Russia ranks in position 150 out of 167 in the latest Economist Democracy Index, in position 182 out of 208 in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2025 report, and among the worst countries in the world in multiple governance indexes.
In December 2025, a French-Russian presenter on RT was included in the EU’s restrictive measures because "He acts as a mouthpiece for pro-Russian and pro-Kremlin propaganda, spreading conspiracy theories about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—for example, accusing Ukraine of orchestrating its own invasion to join NATO. He is responsible for implementing or supporting actions and policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine or threaten stability and security in a third country (Ukraine) through information manipulation and interference".
The EU imposed sanctions on some Russian state media companies and restricted the broadcasting of Russian programmes after a long history of false and hostile narratives. Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) is not covered by the freedom of speech and information as stated in Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental rights as they endanger the security and freedoms inside the EU.
Read also related case such as Putin's Direct Line press conference proves there is no censorship in Russia, The EU intends to create a "Ministry of Truth" and institutionalise censorship, or EU begins arresting citizens with pro-Russian views or There is more freedom of speech in Russia than in Europe, or Russian media telling inconvenient truths are persecuted, whilst in Russia media is free.