MOSCOW — The Russian foreign ministry summoned U.S. media to a meeting Monday to warn them that visas and accreditations could be revoked if the United States doesn’t reverse restrictions on Russian journalists.
Maria Zakharova, a ministry spokeswoman, issued the warning amid tensions with Western leaders over Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. In which Russian forces have seized substantial territory,
U.S. satellite and cable operators dropped RT, a Kremlin-funded television channel. State-run TV stations were also targeted by U.S. sanctions. YouTube has also blocked many official Russian channels including Zakharova’s weekly briefings.
Zakharova stated that U.S. journalists from Russia have been denied visas or extensions and that some of them have been held for long interrogations at airports.
“Why would they make us endure this?” She said that if they want to take over our media space, we will do so together. It’s like ripping off a dog’s tail. Let’s not let it go.
Zakharova stated that if journalists are not reinstated in their rights and Russian media are not restored to their rights, the same measures will be taken against you.”
She told The Associated Press representatives that she did not believe they had discussed it.
After the March passage of a law that could see you spending up to 15 years in jail for reporting on discrediting the Russian military, many foreign news agencies have suspended or stopped operations in Russia.
Zakharova didn’t specify a time frame when Russia might take action. However, accreditation and journalist visa renewals can only be issued for three months.
She said that she was not concerned about the short-term extension and that “this is our greatest patience.”
In response to Canada’s ban against RT, the foreign ministry directed the closing of the Moscow bureau of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After Germany had banned RT’s German-language programming, Deutsche Welle, a German broadcaster, was forced to close its Moscow office as Russia increased its troops at Ukraine’s border.
Russia refused to renew Sarah Rainsford’s visa last year. Sarah Rainsford is a long-standing reporter for BBC Moscow.
