U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions against Russian media channel RT, calling it “essentially a branch of Russian intelligence.”
A senior U.S. diplomat told reporters on Friday that RT is part of a network of Russian-backed media outlets that covertly seek to “undermine democracy in the United States.”
He added that the Russian government “has placed a unit within RT with cyber-operations capabilities and links to Russian intelligence services.”
RT live-streamed Secretary Blinken’s remarks on X and declared it “America’s newest conspiracy theory.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the United States should have a “new job” as an expert on sanctions imposed on Russia.
In response to US claims that RT attempted to influence the election, RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said: A person who was sanctioned by the US last week They said they were excellent teachers, adding that many of RT’s staff had studied in the United States and received funding from the United States.
The State Department has accused the state-run broadcaster, formerly Russia Today, of engaging in “information operations, covert influence operations, and military procurement” in countries in Europe, Africa, North America, and South America.
Secretary Blinken also accused RT of running an online fundraising campaign to buy body armor, sniper rifles, drones and other equipment for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
He said the network sought to influence Moldova’s politics in the run-up to the October 2024 presidential election by cooperating with Russian intelligence services.
The United States has already charged two RT employees with trying to interfere in this year’s presidential election, but American officials said Friday the state broadcaster had played a larger role in efforts to undermine democracy in Russia.
The state media agency responded to the US government’s criticism in a statement to the BBC at the time, mocking it, saying: “It’s 2016 and they want the same old cliches again.”
“There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and RT’s interference in the US election.”
“Our most powerful antidote to Russia’s lies is the truth, which shines a bright light on what the Kremlin is trying to do behind the cover of darkness,” Secretary Blinken said at a news conference.
Secretary Blinken stressed that the sanctions were not related to the content of the outlet’s reporting, and expressed the United States’ commitment to supporting independent journalism.
“Clandestine influence peddling is not journalism,” he said.
The announcement is part of a series of actions the U.S. government has taken against Russian state media as the 2024 election approaches. The State Department has also designated RT as a foreign envoy.
