West launched 'blatant bullying campaign' against Russian media: Putin
3 Min Read
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Western countries of banning Russian television channels and directly censoring media and online resources.
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In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state-owned Sputnik agency, President Vladimir Putin meets with the Governor of the Astrakhan region in Moscow, on August 27, 2023. (AFP)
Western countries systematically obstruct Russian journalists in order to suppress truth and inconvenient facts, indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Almost all Western countries where our journalists try to work, are creating obstacles for them, banning Russian television channels and directly censoring our media and online resources," Putin said in an interview for Mongolia’s Onoodor daily.
"Certainly, this runs counter to the democratic principles of freedom of speech and free flow of information," he stressed.
The Russian leader asserted that Russian media abroad aim to present and clarify Russia’s perspectives on pressing global issues, affirming that they operate respectfully and adhere to ethical standards and the national legislation of each host country.
According to Putin, "The West, which claims to be a model of freedom, has opted to hide from inconvenient facts and the truth by launching a blatant bullying campaign against Russian journalists and indiscriminately labelling them as ‘Kremlin propagandists’."
The Russian president highlighted that media freedom is firmly protected by the Russian Constitution, adding that the country's authorities "cooperate constructively with television channels, news agencies, newspapers, online media and other media outlets, regardless of their editorial policy."
"The only thing they are required to do is to comply with Russian laws. This should be understood by foreign journalists accredited in Russia," he emphasized.
Putin's statements come a couple of days after the Russian Foreign Ministry announced a permanent entry ban on 92 US nationals in response to what it described as a "Russophobic policy" by the Biden administration.
The measure affects certain journalists from major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
"As a response to the insane sanctions frenzy of the American ruling elite, the practice of expanding the list of people under entry bans will be continued with determination and consistency by including those who are directly involved in anti-Russian activities," the ministry stressed.
It is noteworthy that in May, Russian lawmakers enacted a bill granting prosecutors the authority to close foreign media bureaus in Moscow if a Western country is deemed "unfriendly" toward Russian media.
This legislative move follows sanctions imposed by Washington on several state-run Russian television channels, which the US accuses of disseminating disinformation to support the war in Ukraine.
Read more: France undermines freedom of speech with Durov arrest: Zakharova
