Sun Sep 15 12:43:36 UTC 2024: ## US Crackdown on Russian Media Sparks Outrage, Accused of “War on Free Speech”
**Moscow, Russia** – Russia has condemned the latest sanctions imposed by the US on RT and other Russian news outlets, calling it a “declaration of war on free speech” and a blatant attempt to control the global information landscape.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the sanctions as “repressions unprecedented in scale,” accusing the US of using “open threats and blackmail” to silence dissenting voices. She dismissed allegations of Russian interference in the 2024 US presidential election as a “witch-hunt” and “spy-o-mania” designed to manipulate public opinion.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the sanctions on Friday, accusing RT of engaging in “covert influence activities” and functioning as a “de facto arm of Russian intelligence.” Earlier this month, Washington also imposed sanctions on RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan and other senior employees.
James Rubin, head of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), stated that RT’s “broad scope and reach” has negatively influenced global perception of the Ukraine conflict, prompting the US to actively counter Russian media outlets worldwide.
Rubin admitted to seeking to “shut down Russian media outlets around the world,” citing efforts to influence public opinion in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The GEC has previously engaged in propaganda campaigns aimed at children and has pressured social media platforms to censor pro-Russian content.
Simonyan, in response to the sanctions, dismissed the accusations of collaboration with Russian intelligence as “projection” and a reflection of the US government’s own tactics.
The escalating conflict between Russia and the US over media freedom has raised concerns about the potential for further restrictions and censorship on a global scale.
First Piper 