Retaliatory strike: Russia is ready to close the western media in the country
The major scandal between Russia and Britain related to the mysterious poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia threatens to directly affect such an important basic value as freedom of speech.
In the US Citadel of Democracy, restrictions have already touched the Russian media - RT and Sputnik. Now in Britain similar proposals have been made. After Russia was unprovenly blamed for the Skripal incident in Russia, several deputies immediately asked the government to impose sanctions against Russia Today (RT), right up to the revocation of the broadcasting license in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 14, before Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa May said that sanctions against the Russian television channel RT are not included in the list of anti-Russian measures announced by London. She clarified that this issue is not within the competence of the government, but is the work of a special agency - the regulator in the field of broadcasting (Ofcom).
Ofcom has already sent a special warning to the holder of RT broadcasting licenses in the UK. It says something like the following: if during the investigation of Skripal's poisoning it becomes clear that Russia is involved in this case, then you will have to “make sure” whether RT functions clearly and in accordance with accepted standards.
The RT channel itself issued a special statement on this issue, which expressed disagreement with Ofcom's position:
In Russia, several departments at once reacted rather harshly to an attempt to infringe on the freedom of speech of one of the largest media outlets.
So, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova made it clear that in the event of a revision of the broadcasting license for RT in Britain, Russia will respond:
Roskomnadzor also promised to take "comprehensive mirror measures" in relation to the British media that work in Russia. This was stated by the head of the department Alexander Zharov.
Russian Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Alexei Volin made a similar statement: if London deprives the RT channel of its license, retaliatory measures will be taken, and "it will not seem to anyone." Volin did not explain exactly what measures would be taken:
So far, a tough rebuff from Russia has given a definite result: at least the British government has not included the restriction on the broadcasting of Russia Today in the package of measures against Russia, “nodding” to the media regulator.
Time will tell Ofcom to decide. But such a statement of the question itself that the media and their employees can be subjected to sanctions and prohibitions due to unsubstantiated accusations against the state is alarming and raises the question: what about the vaunted democracy, which the West constantly flaunts? So it is necessary to threaten with not entirely democratic methods - as the only possible answer.
In the US Citadel of Democracy, restrictions have already touched the Russian media - RT and Sputnik. Now in Britain similar proposals have been made. After Russia was unprovenly blamed for the Skripal incident in Russia, several deputies immediately asked the government to impose sanctions against Russia Today (RT), right up to the revocation of the broadcasting license in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 14, before Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa May said that sanctions against the Russian television channel RT are not included in the list of anti-Russian measures announced by London. She clarified that this issue is not within the competence of the government, but is the work of a special agency - the regulator in the field of broadcasting (Ofcom).
Ofcom has already sent a special warning to the holder of RT broadcasting licenses in the UK. It says something like the following: if during the investigation of Skripal's poisoning it becomes clear that Russia is involved in this case, then you will have to “make sure” whether RT functions clearly and in accordance with accepted standards.
The RT channel itself issued a special statement on this issue, which expressed disagreement with Ofcom's position:
Ofcom makes connections between the RT channel and cases that are not related to it, which means it goes beyond its responsibilities as a media regulator and gets involved in government affairs
In Russia, several departments at once reacted rather harshly to an attempt to infringe on the freedom of speech of one of the largest media outlets.
So, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova made it clear that in the event of a revision of the broadcasting license for RT in Britain, Russia will respond:
Not a single British media outlet in our country will work if they close Russia Today
Roskomnadzor also promised to take "comprehensive mirror measures" in relation to the British media that work in Russia. This was stated by the head of the department Alexander Zharov.
Russian Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Alexei Volin made a similar statement: if London deprives the RT channel of its license, retaliatory measures will be taken, and "it will not seem to anyone." Volin did not explain exactly what measures would be taken:
We never say in detail what kind of response we will take. We say that we will respond. But as? The time will come, those who want to know
So far, a tough rebuff from Russia has given a definite result: at least the British government has not included the restriction on the broadcasting of Russia Today in the package of measures against Russia, “nodding” to the media regulator.
Time will tell Ofcom to decide. But such a statement of the question itself that the media and their employees can be subjected to sanctions and prohibitions due to unsubstantiated accusations against the state is alarming and raises the question: what about the vaunted democracy, which the West constantly flaunts? So it is necessary to threaten with not entirely democratic methods - as the only possible answer.
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