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RT Editor Says Congress’ Move To Nix Media Credentials Is Hypocritical

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Chris White Tech Reporter
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Russia Today’s editor in chief suggested Thursday that Congress’ move to withdraw the Russian media outlet’s credentials should also apply to state-run media in communist China.

“To all the self-righteous defenders of the ‘freedom of speech’ … in the US: withdrawal of Congressional credentials speaks much louder than empty platitudes,” RT’s Editor-in Chief Margarita Simonyan said in a press statement.

Congress revoked RT USA’s media credentials earlier this month after the U.S. government forced the state-financed media outlet to register as a “foreign agent.”

The Department of Justice urged RT America to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), which requires the outlet to fork over sensitive financial information.

Simonyan pushed back against the designation, calling it hypocritical to compel Russian media to file under FARA while allowing propaganda outlets in China free reign in the U.S.

“It looks like only RT is denied congressional accreditation on the basis of FARA status, while the likes of NHK and China People’s Daily carry on business as usual,” she said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized an anti-foreign media law in direct response to the DOJ’s move.

The law was fast-tracked through parliament during the past two weeks, and allows Moscow to force foreign media to brand their news content as the work of “foreign agents.” It also forces news platforms like Reuters to provide the Russian government with funding sources.

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