Russia accuses US of attacking press freedom with sanctions on RT

September 21 () –

Russian Ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova said on Saturday that the US actions against the news channel Russia Today (RT) could be considered “terror and a violation of media freedom.”

The statement was made in a post on its Telegram channel, where it noted that the United States has not provided any information about the charges against the network, while regretting that the rules for the Russian press in the country have been tightened.

“Some Russian editorial staff have also been forced to leave the United States due to threats to their safety,” Moskalkova said, citing the case of an RT journalist who saw his home searched by FBI agents and his correspondence seized.

“Such actions cannot be classified as anything other than terror and violation of media freedom by the United States, which contradicts the fundamental principles of democracy, which are so often talked about by the relevant authorities and officials of the United States,” he added.

The US government announced sanctions in early September against several RT employees, including its editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonian, and two organisations accused of carrying out disinformation campaigns, for influencing the 2024 presidential election.