Russia calls out EU's violation of freedom of speech, media
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The chairman of Russia’s State Duma says the EU's policy of double standards has become an integral part of European structures”.
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Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, and Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin at a session of the State Duma in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (AP/Kremlin)
Commenting on Brussels’ latest ban on Russian media outlets, Russia’s State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin called out the EU for censoring alternative opinions and restricting freedom of speech to deceive citizens.
The decision targets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing their alleged role in spreading and supporting "Russian propaganda" and "aggression against Ukraine."
"The Council today decided to suspend the broadcasting activities in the European Union of four additional media outlets, which spread and support the Russian propaganda and war of aggression against Ukraine: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta," the council wrote in a document.
On Telegram, Volodin called the move a sign of the EU “to close access to objective and reliable information” for residents of member states, adding, “the policy of double standards has become an integral part of European structures” as they only “talk about freedom of speech, but do not tolerate it in reality”.
He highlighted that there is nothing that the EU can do to prove they are right, further adding that as soon as they see any problems, they block “any alternative point of view, destroy freedom of speech, and violate the right to freely disseminate and receive information”.
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“In fact, they introduce censorship with the only purpose – to deceive their citizens and stay in power,” he continued.
'Repressive measures' will not go unanswered
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova recalled how Russia warned the EU that “repressive measures” against Russian media will not go unanswered.
“Ignoring these warnings forces us to take countermeasures, which will follow inevitably,” she said on Friday.
The decision to ban, Zakharova said, is proof “of the neglect by the EU and its member states for their international obligations in the field of ensuring media pluralism and another example of the degeneration of democratic societies” in the West.
When the war in Ukraine first started in 2022, the European Union banned Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed, accusing the pair of "spreading harmful disinformation."
