Russia said it will retaliate next week against American media after the US government ordered state broadcaster RT to register as a foreign agent, following accusations it interfered in last year’s presidential elections.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on November 9 that “practical implementation” of steps in response to the US move will begin next week. Russian authorities have repeatedly said their retaliation will mirror any restrictions imposed by the US.
In September, the US Department of Justice sent a letter to the company, claiming it is obligated to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The law demands the disclosure of the channel’s confidential data, including the personal data of its staff. The move “will have serious legal consequences” and “compromise the safety of [RT] employees,” the Russian Foreign Ministry previously explained.
Washington will apply its Foreign Agents Registration Act to RT America, the channel has announced on November 9. The Department of Justice has given the broadcaster until November 13 to register as a foreign agent, otherwise the channel’s head faces arrest and its accounts could be frozen. RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, said that the timeframe provided for the company is a “cannibalistic.” She previously said that the channel was being forced into “conditions in which we cannot work” in the US, and called Washington’s demand an attempt to “drive [RT] out of the country.” While RT America will comply with the DOJ’s demand and register as a “foreign agent,” the company will challenge the decision in court, Simonyan said.
This coincided with US Congress announcing it plans to spend $4.6 million to counter Russia in Eastern Europe in 2018.
Within the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, under a category entitled, “Countering Russian Aggression,” $4.6 billion is set aside for the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) to “reassure NATO allies and enhance the US deterrent and defense postures in Europe,” NDAA calling for $350 million to “provide security assistance to Ukraine, including defensive lethal assistance.”
In 2015, the budget for supporting Eastern European US allies consisted of $750 million, while 2016 saw it rise to $3.5 billion.
It’s not just RT under threat. Pretty much all media outlets that oppose America’s aggressive foreign policy are being labeled as “Kremlin propaganda.” Furthermore, RT’s imagined influence on the US election was just their excuse to crack-down. If anything, coverage like RT’s reporting from inside Syria (mainly Aleppo) posed a much greater threat to the western media’s narrative. I still recall the RT video about the 12 year old kid that was beheaded by US-backed moderates. At least two of the perpetrators in that incident were members of the Syrian White Helmets. This is key, because they are a cornerstone source used by the media to shine a light on alleged “atrocities” committed by the Syrian and Russian military. In short: RT exposing the White Helmets = RT destroying US pro war propaganda. Oh well. Who said it was gonna be easy? With such high stakes in this media war, it’s safe to say that neither side is going down quietly…
This news is astounding.Looks like the Kremlin is for a hard ride.big time.Not going away soon for Russia.
There is so much happening right now, the supposed joint statement in Vietnam, the supposed targeting of Riyadh by Iran, Saudi misinformation regarding supposed New Iranian Military grouping that breaks the July accord between the US and Russia. Yankee doubling of Military Aid to their “new satellite states in Eastern Europe. The unfolding events in the South China Sea. All this and much much more can only lead one to believe the Yankees are still pursing their belief that Full Spectrum Dominance is achievable. Their Propaganda is sticking for they are suppressing all media outlets that are not towing the line Woe are we
You are 100% right. Even the most traditional Patriotic American news outlets that are also against these Imperial wars for Israel are getting shut down.
The mainstream media are simply Karl Marx mouthpieces for Marxism 3.0.
Thus it is called the U.S.S.A.
There’s a typo in this line:
“This coincided with US Congress announcing it plans to spend $4.6 million to counter Russia in Eastern Europe in 2018.”
I believe you meant to say “billion” not “million”.
They say a million, you say a billon; I say a billion you say a million…..a trillion, a billion, a million – LETS CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF !!.
Stupid does as stupid is.
In my view Russia were naïve in blocking CNN. Personally I would immediately open the block and allow the citizens to laugh at it again.
Exposing the lies is what its all about .
American politicians ( usually lawyers ) know how to use the court system in order to create
positive press (propaganda). Rather than play the childish yelling match that Trump and Kim are playing , Russia needs good legal council in order to create good press . By law , all client – lawyer communications are protected , they can not be forced into any disclosures .
Take the high road .