Moscow, November 2, 2024 – The Europe Today: The Kremlin expressed support for Russian companies pursuing legal defenses against foreign accusations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday. The remarks came in response to reports that ANO Dialog, a Russian company, plans to sue the FBI in the United States over claims that it disseminated fake content.
Peskov emphasized the importance of defending the rights of Russian organizations, stating, “Of course, we support any attempts [by targeted companies] to defend their rights in court. Those of our organizations and media outlets – both state and non-state – that do this… their rights must be defended by all legal means.”
ANO Dialog, a firm focused on countering disinformation, revealed to business daily Kommersant that it plans to contest the FBI’s accusations in court. The U.S. has accused the company of being involved in AI-based deep fake operations and has labeled it a ‘Russian state-sponsored actor,’ claiming that the company aimed to undermine electoral processes.
Despite expressing support for legal measures, Peskov voiced skepticism about the fairness of the American judicial system. “One can assume with a high degree of certainty that in such cases, American courts will immediately lose their impartiality, balance and fairness. They will forget about these principles,” he stated, adding that the Kremlin does not hold great expectations for unbiased rulings in American courts.
Vladimir Tabak, CEO of ANO Dialog, categorically denied the accusations. He highlighted that the U.S. Justice and Treasury Departments based their claims on testimony from an FBI agent. Tabak further pointed out that disinformation could also potentially be spread by U.S. officials themselves, such as FBI agents and members of the Department of Justice.
Tabak disclosed that the company has engaged American legal representation and is preparing to file the lawsuit in Pennsylvania, with the specific filing date to be determined soon. He also announced the establishment of an International Association for Fact-Checking, aimed at launching services to refute disinformation in collaboration with countries friendly to Russia and organizations that share similar values.
The case has drawn attention as a significant instance of Russian companies taking proactive legal action in response to Western allegations of disinformation and election interference.
