DISINFO: Latvia, Ukraine, France exhibit worst biased behaviour against Russian media
SUMMARY
Latvia, Ukraine and France have been topping the list of countries that exhibit the worst biased behaviour against the Russian media and journalists over the past five years. The West had embarked on a massive crusade to tarnish the Russian media over the course of the past several years "creating unbearable conditions for their work."
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the West of applying double standards and violating the freedom of the press.
Latvia limited the dissimination of the Russian state broadcaster RT in 2020, calling its channels “propaganda” and citing its ties to one of Russia’s top propagandists, Dmitry Kiselyov, who is currently under EU sanctions.
The Baltic states provide a broad choice of sources of information for its residents, including information in the Russian language such as Latvian Public Service Media. Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik were officially put under sanctions in the EU on 2 March 2022 in a move to limit Russian state disinformation narratives amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
As for Ukraine, three TV channels -- 112 Ukraine, ZIK and NewsOne -- related to pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, were closed in 2021 for these connection and anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Another pro-Kremlin TV channel, Nash, was closed in 2022 for the same reason.
Read more disinformation narratives alleging that the West is fostering Russophobia.