DISINFO: The EU and the US violate the rights of Russian journalists
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: sputnik-abkhazia.ru (archived)*
  • Date of publication: May 03, 2019
  • Outlet language(s): Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 150
  • Countries / regions discussed: US, Russia
Tags:
Human rights Freedom of speech Europe

DISINFO: The EU and the US violate the rights of Russian journalists

SUMMARY

Over the past five years, there were hundreds of examples when rights of Russian journalists were violated in the Baltic States and other European countries, and in the US. They deport Russian journalists, freeze their accounts, restrict their activities, conduct unfounded searches in the offices of Russian media. International human rights organisations, and leaders of some European countries, mostly ignore these violations.

RESPONSE

No evidence given. The claim was disseminated with reference to the case of Kirill Vyshinsky - head of RIA Novosti's Ukrainian branch, who was detained by SBU for treason. An attempt of whataboutism and counter-accusations as international organisations often criticise Russia for violating the right to freedom of speech and rights of journalists. In fact, in 2014 Russia expelled an American journalist for the first time since the collapse of the USSR. According to Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press report, Russia is ranked as “not free.” According to Reporters without Borders (RWB) Press Freedom Index, Russia is ranked 149th among 180 countries. 38 journalists have been murdered in Russia since 1993 for preparing investigative materials on corruption, politics and human rights violations. Almost all leading media outlets in the country are controlled by the persons affiliated with the authorities or the Kremlin. The freest countries in terms of press freedom are the EU countries: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Estonia, Portugal, Germany, etc. The US press freedom index ranks 48th out of 180 countries. According to Freedom of Press 2017 report, the US is ranked as a "free" country, while the EU countries being "free" or "partly free". The claim is the part of a bigger narrative of alleged Western attacks on Russian journalists. Similar cases can be found here, here, here and here.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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