US Imposes Sanctions on RT
The State Department has asserted that the Russian outlet poses a threat to democracy. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Russian outlet poses a threat to democracy, according to claims from the State Department.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has criticized RT and its parent company, asserting that they operate as an extension of Russian intelligence and are working to undermine global democracy.
During a press conference at the State Department on Friday, Blinken made the announcement regarding sanctions against RT's parent companies, Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti. He accused “individuals affiliated” and “elements within” these companies of attempting interference in the Moldovan elections.
Additionally, the State Department has sanctioned Dmitry Kiselev, the director-general of Rossiya Segodnya.
TV-Novosti is alleged to have "been responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, interference” in US or other foreign elections “for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly,” the Russian government.
Blinken described RT as being “engaged in covert influence activities… functioning as a de facto arm of [Russian] intelligence.”
In his remarks, Blinken indicated that the US, UK, and Canada intend to initiate a global campaign to classify RT's activities as espionage, aiming to involve all of their “allies and partners” in this effort.
James O’Brien, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, characterized RT as a “threat to democracy and accurate information.”
The State Department has stated that RT has “moved beyond being simply a media outlet and has been an entity with cyber capabilities,” being “also engaged in information operations, covert influence, and military procurement.”
The US government alleged that “an entity with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence” has been operating within RT since spring 2023, with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Anton Anisimov having “direct, witting knowledge of this enterprise.”
Another claim against RT is that Anisimov has been running a crowdfunding platform “providing material support and weaponry to Russia’s military units in Ukraine.”
Furthermore, the State Department accused RT of funding “proxy outlets” engaged in “covert influence activity” globally, including operations in Africa, Germany, France, and Argentina.
James Rubin, head of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, remarked that the “broad scope and reach” of RT contributed to many countries refraining from supporting Ukraine. The GEC has also funded propaganda initiatives aimed at children and pressured Twitter to censor pro-Russian content. Rubin admitted last year to wanting to leverage the GEC to shut down Russian media outlets worldwide.
“We are going to be talking… in Latin America, Africa and Asia… to try to show all of those countries that right now broadcast – with no restrictions or control – RT and allow them free access to their countries,” Rubin argued, claiming that RT’s presence has “had a deleterious effect on the views of the rest of the world about a war that should be an open and shut case.”
Earlier in the day, CNN received a leak of the State Department's announcement. When contacted for a response, RT’s press office sarcastically stated: “We’ve been broadcasting straight out of the KGB headquarters all this time,” adding humorously, “We’re running out of popcorn to sit and watch what the US government will come up with next about us.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has criticized RT and its parent company, asserting that they operate as an extension of Russian intelligence and are working to undermine global democracy.
During a press conference at the State Department on Friday, Blinken made the announcement regarding sanctions against RT's parent companies, Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti. He accused “individuals affiliated” and “elements within” these companies of attempting interference in the Moldovan elections.
Additionally, the State Department has sanctioned Dmitry Kiselev, the director-general of Rossiya Segodnya.
TV-Novosti is alleged to have "been responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, interference” in US or other foreign elections “for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly,” the Russian government.
Blinken described RT as being “engaged in covert influence activities… functioning as a de facto arm of [Russian] intelligence.”
In his remarks, Blinken indicated that the US, UK, and Canada intend to initiate a global campaign to classify RT's activities as espionage, aiming to involve all of their “allies and partners” in this effort.
James O’Brien, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, characterized RT as a “threat to democracy and accurate information.”
The State Department has stated that RT has “moved beyond being simply a media outlet and has been an entity with cyber capabilities,” being “also engaged in information operations, covert influence, and military procurement.”
The US government alleged that “an entity with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence” has been operating within RT since spring 2023, with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and her deputy Anton Anisimov having “direct, witting knowledge of this enterprise.”
Another claim against RT is that Anisimov has been running a crowdfunding platform “providing material support and weaponry to Russia’s military units in Ukraine.”
Furthermore, the State Department accused RT of funding “proxy outlets” engaged in “covert influence activity” globally, including operations in Africa, Germany, France, and Argentina.
James Rubin, head of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, remarked that the “broad scope and reach” of RT contributed to many countries refraining from supporting Ukraine. The GEC has also funded propaganda initiatives aimed at children and pressured Twitter to censor pro-Russian content. Rubin admitted last year to wanting to leverage the GEC to shut down Russian media outlets worldwide.
“We are going to be talking… in Latin America, Africa and Asia… to try to show all of those countries that right now broadcast – with no restrictions or control – RT and allow them free access to their countries,” Rubin argued, claiming that RT’s presence has “had a deleterious effect on the views of the rest of the world about a war that should be an open and shut case.”
Earlier in the day, CNN received a leak of the State Department's announcement. When contacted for a response, RT’s press office sarcastically stated: “We’ve been broadcasting straight out of the KGB headquarters all this time,” adding humorously, “We’re running out of popcorn to sit and watch what the US government will come up with next about us.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
