03:59Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the cases of US media in Russia and Russian media in Germany during her weekly press conference in Moscow, on Thursday.
First, she commented on the case of the RT television network, which have been refused cooperation by Germany's Commerzbank and a number of other banks. Zakharova described it as “an element of political pressure on journalists and an obvious violation of Germany’s obligations to ensure freedom of speech and the media.”
She asked Berlin “to ensure normal functioning of these media companies,” warning that otherwise there will be some “harsh retaliatory measures against the German media working in Russia.”
Then she switched to the case of the US-backed media outlet 'Radio Liberty,' which on March 3 was denied appeal against fines imposed under the foreign agent law.
“These suppression measures of illegal activities [260 administrative proceedings and 142 fines] in no way restrict the journalistic work of the American mass media or its right to free information,” she said, calling US reaction to this “interfering in the work of the judicial system of a sovereign state and, in general, in our internal affairs.”
Zakharova went on to slam the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights for 'banal and unconfirmed accusations' regarding Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. His condition was studied when he arrived in Germany after he fell ill and was put in a medically-induced coma in Russia.
The German government has said independent laboratories from France and Sweden had confirmed findings by German military toxicologists that Navalny was ‘poisoned’ with a Novichok nerve agent. Tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also suggest Navalny was exposed to Novichok.
The Kremlin denies all the accusations over Navalny’s case.
Russia: Zakharova threatens Germany with ‘harsh’ response over Berlin ‘impeding’ Russian media
Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the cases of US media in Russia and Russian media in Germany during her weekly press conference in Moscow, on Thursday.
First, she commented on the case of the RT television network, which have been refused cooperation by Germany's Commerzbank and a number of other banks. Zakharova described it as “an element of political pressure on journalists and an obvious violation of Germany’s obligations to ensure freedom of speech and the media.”
She asked Berlin “to ensure normal functioning of these media companies,” warning that otherwise there will be some “harsh retaliatory measures against the German media working in Russia.”
Then she switched to the case of the US-backed media outlet 'Radio Liberty,' which on March 3 was denied appeal against fines imposed under the foreign agent law.
“These suppression measures of illegal activities [260 administrative proceedings and 142 fines] in no way restrict the journalistic work of the American mass media or its right to free information,” she said, calling US reaction to this “interfering in the work of the judicial system of a sovereign state and, in general, in our internal affairs.”
Zakharova went on to slam the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights for 'banal and unconfirmed accusations' regarding Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. His condition was studied when he arrived in Germany after he fell ill and was put in a medically-induced coma in Russia.
The German government has said independent laboratories from France and Sweden had confirmed findings by German military toxicologists that Navalny was ‘poisoned’ with a Novichok nerve agent. Tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also suggest Navalny was exposed to Novichok.
The Kremlin denies all the accusations over Navalny’s case.
Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the cases of US media in Russia and Russian media in Germany during her weekly press conference in Moscow, on Thursday.
First, she commented on the case of the RT television network, which have been refused cooperation by Germany's Commerzbank and a number of other banks. Zakharova described it as “an element of political pressure on journalists and an obvious violation of Germany’s obligations to ensure freedom of speech and the media.”
She asked Berlin “to ensure normal functioning of these media companies,” warning that otherwise there will be some “harsh retaliatory measures against the German media working in Russia.”
Then she switched to the case of the US-backed media outlet 'Radio Liberty,' which on March 3 was denied appeal against fines imposed under the foreign agent law.
“These suppression measures of illegal activities [260 administrative proceedings and 142 fines] in no way restrict the journalistic work of the American mass media or its right to free information,” she said, calling US reaction to this “interfering in the work of the judicial system of a sovereign state and, in general, in our internal affairs.”
Zakharova went on to slam the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights for 'banal and unconfirmed accusations' regarding Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. His condition was studied when he arrived in Germany after he fell ill and was put in a medically-induced coma in Russia.
The German government has said independent laboratories from France and Sweden had confirmed findings by German military toxicologists that Navalny was ‘poisoned’ with a Novichok nerve agent. Tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also suggest Navalny was exposed to Novichok.
The Kremlin denies all the accusations over Navalny’s case.