US Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced new sanctions towards the Russian media channel RT, accusing it of being “a de facto department of Russian intelligence providers”.
The highest US diplomat advised reporters on Friday that RT was a part of a Russian-backed media community that was secretly making an attempt to “undermine American democracy.”
He added that the Russian authorities has “embedded in RT a unit with cyber operations capabilities and hyperlinks to Russian intelligence providers.”
RT broadcast Blinken’s remarks about X dwell and declared that it was “the most recent conspiracy principle in the USA.”
International Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mentioned the USA ought to have a “new career” as consultants in imposing sanctions on Russia.
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan responds to US accusations that RT tried to affect the election Sanctioned by the USA final week mentioned they have been wonderful lecturers, including that many RT staff had studied in the USA and acquired funding from the USA.
The U.S. State Division accused the state broadcaster, previously referred to as Russia At the moment, of partaking in “data operations, covert affect and army procurement” in international locations in Europe, Africa, North and South America.
Blinken additionally accused RT of internet hosting a web based fundraiser to purchase physique armor, sniper rifles, drones and different tools for Russian troopers combating in Ukraine.
He mentioned the community was additionally making an attempt to affect Moldovan politics in coordination with Russian intelligence forward of the October 2024 presidential election.
The US has indicted two RT staff for allegedly making an attempt to intervene on this yr’s presidential election, however U.S. officers mentioned on Friday the state broadcaster performed a bigger position in Russia’s efforts to undermine democracy.
The state-funded media group responded on the time, mocking the US authorities’s accusations and saying in a press release to the BBC that “2016 is behind us and it needs to return to these clichés”.
“Three issues are sure in life: dying, taxes, and RT’s interference in US elections.”
“Our strongest antidote to Russian lies is the reality. It sheds gentle on what the Kremlin is making an attempt to do below cowl of darkness,” Blinken advised a information convention.
Blinken confused that the sanctions had nothing to do with the content material of the outlet’s reporting and reiterated U.S. assist for unbiased journalism.
“Clandestine affect operations should not journalism,” he mentioned.
The announcement is a part of a sequence of actions by the U.S. authorities focusing on Russian state media because the 2024 election approaches. The U.S. Division of State additionally designates RT as a overseas mission.