Telegram restricted access to Russian state-owned news channels in several European countries, including Poland, France, and Italy.
Telegram blocked access to channels of multiple Russian state-owned news outlets across Europe, including Italy, Poland, Czechia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Greece, and Latvia.
Some blocked Russian media outlets are RIA Novosti, NTV, Rossiya 1, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Visitors are presented with the message “This channel can’t be displayed because it violated local laws.”
“Restrictions apply to several Russian state-run or controlled media outlets, including RIA Novosti, Izvestia, Rossiya 1, Channel One, NTV, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.” reported the Kyivindependent.
“Russia has waged a systematic international campaign of media manipulation and disinformation to justify its aggression against Ukraine and destabilize neighboring countries and the EU. These efforts target Ukraine and its citizens, as well as European political parties, civil society, and democratic institutions, with a focus on election interference and vulnerable groups.”
According to EU authorities, Russian media outlets play a crucial role in the ongoing war, serving as tools for the Kremlin to target Ukraine and destabilize neighboring countries.
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the the block of Russian media outlets Telegram channels as an act of political censorship.
“We perceive this new act of political censorship by countries of the neo-liberal West as a formalisation of their line to suppress any manifestations of dissent contrary to their international obligations in the sphere of ensuring free access to information and media pluralism.” said Zakharova. “The deprivation of Western citizens of an opportunity to independently formulate their own opinion on global developments, a substitution of an objective picture of the world with a simulated reality, fabricated by the mainstream media and social media networks controlled by ruling circles grossly violate fundamental human rights to freespeech and undermine the foundations of democratic society.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry is calling on international organizations, including the UN, UNESCO, and OSCE, to address alleged attacks on Russian media and warns of potential retaliatory measures.
Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon
(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Telegram)
