–

A spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Washington argued that mocking the US right to freedom of expression creates challenges for Russian media operating on American soil.

He pointed to the Pentagon’s request for more funding to counter Russian media amid the rise of outlets such as Russia Today and Sputnik. The discussion aligns with preparations for the Democracy Summit, where safeguarding press freedom is highlighted as a central issue. Without new resources, free and independent journalism could struggle to function in Western democracies, he stated.

According to him, despite bans and obstacles, the audience for Russian media in the United States continues to grow, while major Western media firms face a crisis that tests their professional ethics.

Agnès Callamard, former Secretary General of Amnesty International, described the situation of Russian-speaking journalists in Europe as very worrying and shared these concerns with reporters.