DISINFO: Russian media telling inconvenient truths are persecuted, whilst in Russia media is free
SUMMARY
The West is harassing Russian journalists to hide truthful information and uncomfortable facts. The open persecution of Russian journalists was launched to obscure genuine information.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an alleged lack of freedom of speech in the so-called "collective West".
The EU imposed sanctions on some Russian state media companies and restricted the broadcasting of Russian programs after a long history of false & hostile narratives.
The EU countries are considered free and democratic by Freedom House.
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.
Read also related cases such as: Totalitarian West imposes monopoly on media, culture, communication, or EU ban on Russian media is Russophobia and murder of free speech, or RT and Sputnik were shut down because they told the Western audiences the truth, or There is no freedom of speech in Europe.