Russian authorities on Thursday continued their campaign to suppress press freedom, deeming independent news website Meduza an “undesired organization” and effectively outlawing its content. The move makes Meduza the latest news outlet to fall victim to the Kremlin’s efforts to suppress criticism.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said Medusa’s activities posed a “threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and national security of the Russian Federation,” according to Interfax.
Over the past year, Moscow has stepped up its efforts to control coverage of the war in Ukraine. In March, President Vladimir V. Putin signed into law a law effectively criminalizing public opposition to war and independent reporting.
Announcement on new law boosted several Russian independent news outlets Shut down even before it is enactedThe Russian government has also cut off access to Facebook, BBC and other news sources.
“Russian authorities have shown that they are willing to do whatever it takes to disrupt the activities of the influential independent Russian-language media,” said Grunosa, Europe and Central Asia coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a media watchdog.・Said said in a statement.
The popular Latvian-based Medusa, which publishes news about Russia in both Russian and English, has often critically covered the war in Ukraine. The company posts on its website and posts to her over one million subscribers on Telegram, Russia and elsewhere.
The website was blocked at the outbreak of war in Russia last year, but its new “unwanted” designation has far-reaching implications. Currently, Russians who visit the site, like content on social media, or share links to articles can be fined or imprisoned.
Ivan Kolpakov, editor-in-chief of Meduza, called the designation “a very bad event”, but said, “Nevertheless, we were waiting for this to happen – and let us prepare ourselves. It was made.”
Future plans are unknown, but the site will continue to be open to the public.
Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow referred to Medusa as a “foreign agent,” wiping out advertising revenue and forcing it to shift to a crowdfunding model to keep its business running. As a foreign agent, Medusa 24 word disclaimer New status for all content in Russian, including social media posts. Failure to do so could subject the organization and its journalists to fines or imprisonment.
June, independent business news site VTimes shut down After Russia’s foreign agency designation hit business and made it difficult for reporters to do their jobs. Added to the list.
Other independent news sources are feeling pressure from Moscow’s efforts to censor their coverage, even as they recognize the renewed urgency of providing unfiltered coverage.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was a news network originally established as a CIA operation in the early days of the Cold War. is an exampleThe Russian invasion of Ukraine last February shook Radio Free Europe’s work and underscored the importance of its mission.
Within days of the invasion, the organization Suspension of business in RussiaFacing years of increasing pressure from Moscow, it had already evacuated most of its staff to Prague and other offices even before the war broke out.
Jamie Frye, the station’s president and chief executive, said his organization had been in firefighting mode for a long time.
“The challenges we face now and the invasion of Ukraine are just the latest iteration,” Fry said in an interview late last year. “Operating in this environment puts more pressure on us, and in some cases, even drives us out of the country. That has always been a challenge for us.”
Matina Stevis-Gridnev contributed to the report.