In a recent development, Russia has reaffirmed its stance on taking asymmetric measures in response to U.S. sanctions targeting Russian journalists. Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, stated on Wednesday that Russia reserves the right to act in accordance with its national interests.
Antonov emphasized that Russia would thoroughly evaluate the U.S. sanctions, which include undisclosed visa restrictions imposed by the U.S. State Department. He highlighted concerns that the United States might continue its efforts to suppress alternative viewpoints from Russian media outlets.
\"The attempts to stifle the voices of Russian media, which offer much-needed perspectives in the United States, are likely to persist. I do not foresee an improvement in this situation anytime soon,\" Antonov remarked.
The ambassador criticized the ongoing cycle of retaliatory sanctions between the two nations, particularly those targeting the media, stating that such measures do not contribute to stabilizing or bringing predictability to bilateral relations.
As the U.S. presidential election nears, Antonov pointed out a growing trend among U.S. authorities to leverage anti-Russian sentiment. He suggested that the heightened focus on Russia is part of a broader strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the election outcome.
On September 4, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, along with two of her deputies. Additionally, the State Department imposed tighter regulations on Russian media operations, affecting outlets like Russia Today, RIA Novosti, RT, TV-Novosti, Ruptly, and Sputnik.
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Russia holds right to asymmetric response to U.S. journalist sanctions
cgtn.com
