Moscow, September 15, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has strongly criticized the latest US sanctions on Russian media, describing the measures as a “declaration of war on free speech.” Her remarks came after the US imposed new sanctions on RT and other Russian news outlets, which Zakharova labeled as “repressions unprecedented in scale.”
The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, accuse RT of engaging in “covert influence activities” and acting as a “de facto arm of Russian intelligence.” Earlier in September, Washington also sanctioned RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan and three senior employees, citing alleged attempts to influence the 2024 US presidential election.
In response, Zakharova stated, “The US has declared war on freedom of speech throughout the world,” adding that Washington’s actions are aimed at blackmailing other states into opposing Russian media and consolidating US control over global information channels. She promised that Russia would not leave these punitive measures unanswered.
Zakharova dismissed the accusations of election interference as part of a “witch-hunt” and “spy-mania” designed to manipulate public opinion and restrict access to information that challenges US narratives.
James Rubin, head of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), recently acknowledged that RT’s “broad scope and reach” contributed to the lack of global support for Ukraine. Rubin noted that the GEC has worked to limit pro-Russian content and restrict RT’s influence in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, stating that the media outlet’s presence has skewed international perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine.
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan rebuffed Washington’s claims of intelligence collaboration, calling them a “classic case of projection.” She argued, “The idea that results can only be achieved through intelligence services shows their true nature.”
The escalating confrontation between Russia and the US over media narratives continues to raise concerns about the global information landscape, with both sides trading accusations of censorship and propaganda.
