The United States has imposed sanctions against the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya and its CEO, the well-known propagandist Dmitry Kiselev.
This was reported today, September 13, on the website of the US Department of the Treasury.
It is noted that three legal entities have been added to the sanctions list:
- media holding “Russia Today”, which includes, in particular, the RIA Novosti news agency and the Sputnik agency and radio;
- autonomous non-profit organization “TV-Novosti” – the legal entity of the Russian propaganda foreign broadcasting television channel RT;
- ANO “Eurasia”, whose activities are aimed at disseminating Russian “cultural diplomacy” abroad.
In addition to Kiselev, sanctions have also been imposed against the head of the ANO Eurasia, Nelly Parutenko, who is a citizen of Moldova.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted during a press briefing today that these structures interfered in electoral processes, in particular in Moldova, the BBC reports.
Blinken also said that Russian state media not only spread disinformation and propaganda, but also have hidden capabilities to interfere in the domestic political processes of other countries, including cyber ones.
Thus, according to his information, RT has cyber capabilities and is involved in covert information operations, influence operations, and military procurement.
As part of RT’s expanded capabilities, the Russian government planted a unit inside RT with cyber operations capabilities and connections to Russian intelligence. RT’s leadership had direct […] knowledge about this initiative,” he noted.
According to Blinken, new information about RT’s covert activities was obtained largely from employees of this organization.
He also said that the US, Britain and Canada were launching a joint diplomatic campaign to persuade countries to view RT not just as a propaganda outlet, but as a tool of Russian intelligence.
Source: US Treasury, BBC
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.