Moscow defends RT, accuses US of suppressing alternative viewpoints

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Sep 2024 17:49
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Zakharova accused the US of promoting a "paranoid" Russiagate storyline designed to incite hatred among Americans and push them toward greater intolerance and xenophobia.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, Jan. 18, 2023. (AP)

Moscow praised Russia Today for countering what it termed global "zombification" and accused Washington of trying to maintain its myth of infallibility while launching a diplomatic campaign to warn other nations about RT's activities.

This comes after the US has accused Russia's RT of engaging in covert influence activities aimed at undermining US presidential elections and democracy. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that RT has evolved beyond being a media outlet, alleging that it now possesses cyber capabilities and is integrated with Russian intelligence operations.

The Kremlin, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt by Washington to maintain control over global public opinion and its image of infallibility.

Zakharova argued that the issue is not related to Ukraine or US elections, but rather to the suppression of alternative viewpoints. She claimed that Russian news outlets challenge the US's "myth of exclusivity" and dismantle the illusion of a "non-existent Pax Americana" shaped by American culture and media.

"They form an objective picture of reality, focusing on the real problems, challenges, and victories of today’s society. They do not allow people to become completely addicted and zombified by American mainstream channels," the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman added.

Zakharova accused the US of manipulating public opinion by spreading false narratives about Russian journalists and diplomats, as well as promoting a "paranoid" Russiagate storyline designed to incite hatred among Americans and push them toward greater intolerance and xenophobia.

"It’s just some kind of seasonal aggravation that occurs every few years, driven by their system. When people cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood, when they are not given the opportunity to hear an alternative point of view, and when unwanted candidates are literally facing death," she further said, adding that the US seems to have learned nothing from the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

"They now spin a new spiral of hatred against Russia, alleging interference in their affairs, just to spur this dead horse dubbed 'American democracy,' which is essentially holding the entire American society hostage," Zakharova noted.

She noted that Washington has yet again failed to present solid evidence to support its accusations, which is why the matter has not been taken to court.

"We are no longer talking about sanctions. We haven’t been discussing sanctions for a long time; we are talking about persecution. This is what is being done to RT and generally to Russian media. This is the persecution of our country’s entire civil society," Zakharova concluded.