Speaking to reporters on Friday, Blinken described RT as part of a broader network of Russian-backed media entities that have allegedly worked to “undermine democracy in the United States.” He further claimed that the Russian government has embedded a cyber-operations unit within RT, with direct ties to Russian intelligence.
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In response, RT streamed Blinken’s remarks live on X (formerly Twitter), dismissing them as the “U.S.’s latest conspiracy theory.” Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, mocked the move, suggesting there should be a new U.S. profession dedicated solely to managing sanctions against Russia.
RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, who was recently sanctioned by the U.S., responded to the allegations of election interference by noting that many of RT’s staff were trained in the U.S. and funded by American institutions, sarcastically acknowledging the U.S. as their “excellent teachers.”
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The State Department also accused RT, formerly known as Russia Today, of engaging in a range of activities, including “information operations, covert influence, and military procurement” in various regions, including Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Blinken claimed that RT had organized online fundraisers to supply Russian soldiers in Ukraine with body armour, sniper rifles, drones, and other equipment. He also accused the network of attempting to influence Moldova’s political landscape ahead of its presidential elections in October 2024, in collaboration with Russian intelligence.
Previously, two RT employees were indicted in the U.S. for allegedly interfering in the 2020 presidential election. However, U.S. officials now believe the state broadcaster plays a larger role in Russia’s broader efforts to destabilize democratic governments. RT responded to the charges by ridiculing the U.S. government’s claims, joking that “2016 called and it wants its clichés back.”
In his press conference, Blinken stressed that the sanctions were not aimed at restricting RT’s journalistic content, reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to independent journalism. “Covert influence activities are not journalism,” he stated.
This latest action is part of a broader strategy by the U.S. government to curb the influence of Russian state media ahead of the 2024 elections, with the State Department officially designating RT as a foreign mission.
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