U.S. Secretary Of State Expresses Concern Over Russian Attempts To Restrict RFE/RL

[Rogue Valley]

U.S. Secretary Of State Expresses Concern Over Russian Attempts To Restrict RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his support for U.S. international media amid concerns over Russian efforts to shut down and muzzle RFE/RL under its controversial “foreign agent” law.

www.rferl.org

4/7/21
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his support for U.S. international media amid concerns over Russian efforts to shut down and muzzle RFE/RL under its controversial “foreign agent” law. Blinken met on April 6 with the acting head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Kelu Chao, “to discuss the vital role that free and independent media play in the preservation and promotion of democratic principles worldwide,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor has hit RFE/RL’s Russian-language services with fines of nearly $1 million in recent months for around 400 violations related to failure to comply with burdensome restrictions of the “foreign agent” law. Blinken tweeted afterward that the two "discussed our shared concern over Russia's efforts to close Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and silence this valued source of independent reporting." He called the meeting "insightful." Chao said she was encouraged by Blinken’s concern about Russia's excessive labeling requirements and exorbitant fines targeting RFE/RL. “The secretary agreed that the Russian government’s efforts to silence independent journalism only harm the citizens it is meant to serve,” she said, according to a USAGM statement.

In addition to issuing fines to RFE/RL, the Putin government is also arresting Russian stringers working in Russia for RFE/RL.