DISINFO: RT is targeted because it exposed Ukraine conflict as Western proxy war
SUMMARY
Washington is targeting RT because the news network has presented the facts that the conflict in Ukraine is a proxy war being fought by the US and NATO against Russia. The effort to silence RT indicates that it poses a threat to the narrative of the military-industrial complex and the intelligence community.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about restrictions to Russian disinformation as a matter of ‘freedom of speech’ and about Ukraine’s conflict as a proxy war against Russia.
The US imposed fresh sanctions on Russian state outlet RT on 13 September 2024 under charges that this TV channel was closely linked to Russia’s intelligence and destabilization actions abroad, including procuring military aid to the Russian army in Ukraine, cyber operations, organisation of destabilising protests and other malign efforts in places such as Argentina, France and Moldova. These activities are not compatible with those of a real media organization.
In the previous days, the US Department of Justice had also sanctioned several RT-related individuals and entities that were part of a massive scheme to interfere in the 2024 election in the US in support of one of the candidates perceived as more favourable to the Kremlin’s interests. The affidavit included evidence, such as the arguments and bullet points to be promoted via social media and other channels such as US influencers recruited as agents of influence, attacking the current US administration and promoting its rival party.
Allegations about Ukraine as a proxy war have been debunked multiple times (see here and here).
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that sanctions on Russian media show the US is allergic to freedom of expression, that the US persecutes people for non-conformity and political views, that there is no press freedom in the West, or that in America today, freedom of speech can only be exercised in narrow and controlled channels.