U.S. hits Russian state media with new sanctions : NPR

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Division introduced new sanctions on Russian state media Friday, accusing a Kremlin information outlet of working hand-in-hand with the Russian navy and operating fundraising campaigns to pay for sniper rifles, physique armor and different tools for troopers combating in Ukraine.

Whereas the outlet, RT, has beforehand been sanctioned for its work to unfold Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, the brand new allegations counsel its position goes far past affect operations. As a substitute, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, RT is a key a part of Russia’s conflict machine and its efforts to undermine its democratic adversaries.

“RT desires its new covert intelligence capabilities, like its longstanding propaganda disinformation efforts, to stay hidden,” Blinken instructed reporters. “Our strongest antidote to Russia’s lies is the reality. It’s shining a vivid mild on what the Kremlin is attempting to do underneath the duvet of darkness.”

RT has additionally created web sites posing as reputable information websites to unfold disinformation and propaganda in Europe, Africa, South America and elsewhere, officers stated. They are saying the outlet has additionally expanded its use of cyber operations with a brand new unit with ties to Russian intelligence created final 12 months.

The gang-sourcing effort ran on Russian social media platforms and sought to lift funds for navy provides, a few of which have been procured in China, officers stated. There have been no apparent connections between RT and the fundraising marketing campaign, or any indication that Chinese language officers knew their merchandise have been being offered to Russia.

The record of provides additionally included night-vision tools, drones, radios and mills.

RT’s actions present “it isn’t only a firehouse of disinformation, however a fully-fledged member of the intelligence equipment and operation of the Russian authorities,” stated Jamie Rubin, who heads the State Division’s International Engagement Heart.

President Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov instructed The Related Press that the allegations have been “nonsense.” RT is “media” and “fairly efficient,” Peskov stated.

The sanctions introduced Friday goal RT’s guardian group, TV-Novosti, in addition to a associated state media group known as Rossiya Segodnya and its basic director Dmitry Kiselyov. A 3rd group and its chief, Nelli Parutenko, have been additionally sanctioned for allegedly operating a vote-buying scheme in Moldova designed to assist Moscow’s most well-liked candidates in an upcoming election.

Russia’s Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recommended the sanctions in opposition to RT have been pointless as a result of it has already been sanctioned.

“I believe a brand new career ought to seem in america — a specialist in sanctions already imposed in opposition to Russia,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

Russia’s international propaganda work is receiving further scrutiny within the months main as much as the U.S. election. Final week, the Biden administration seized Kremlin-run web sites and charged two RT staff with covertly paying a Tennessee firm practically $10 million for its content material.

The corporate then paid a number of standard far-right influencers, whose content material typically mirrored Russian speaking factors. Two of the influencers stated that they had no thought their work was being supported by Russia.

This summer time, intelligence officers warned that Russia was utilizing unwitting People to unfold its propaganda by disguising it in English on websites standard with People. Officers say Russia seeks to divide People forward of the election as a approach of lowering help for Ukraine.

Russia’s affect operations additionally seem designed to help former President Donald Trump, who has criticized Ukraine and the NATO alliance whereas praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.