State Department Slams Russian ‘Full Assault on Media Freedom’ Amid Ukraine Invasion

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The State Department slammed what it called a Russian “full assault on media freedom and the truth” amid their invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement on Wednesday night, department spokesperson Ned Price said:

On March 1, Russia’s Prosecutor General ordered the communications authority RosKomNadzor to restrict access to the independent outlets Radio Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV, blocking their websites and ability to broadcast. The outlets were baselessly accused of “calling for extremist activity and violence” and sharing “deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel in Ukraine.” Ekho Moskvy has been respected for its even-handed treatment of breaking news since its founding 32 years ago, and, until yesterday, its broadcasts reached some 1.8 million daily listeners throughout Russia and beyond. Dozhd, which has been operating for more than a decade, is similarly known for high-quality reporting.

Price also decried Russian censorship on social media, accusing the Kremlin of “throttling Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram platforms that tens of millions of Russia’s citizens rely on to access independent information and opinions and to connect with each other and the outside world.”

“These partial blockages further limit where and how Russian citizens can see and share evidence of the truth of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he continued. “RosKomNadzor has threatened to block other online platforms and Golos Ameriki (VOA Russian) if they do not comply with requests to take down reporting on Russia’s invasion.”

Price noted that the Russian government on Friday “will gather in a special session to consider a bill that would make ‘unofficial’ reporting on Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine punishable by up to 15 years in prison.”