Alwaght- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow will resort to reciprocal measures in response to US steps against Russian media, which he called an “attack on freedom of speech.”
"The attack on our media is an attack on freedom of speech without any doubt. We are disappointed,” Putin said at a news briefing at the APEC summit in Vietnam on Saturday. He added that the Russian parliament is currently discussing the response and voicing “tough suggestions.”
"But we will definitely respond and it [the response] will be reciprocal,” the Russian president warned. Putin stressed that the media’s role is to provide information and express their perspective.
"It [the media’s perspective] can be challenged, but not by shutting down the media or creating conditions to make it impossible to carry out its professional activities. [It can be challenged] by presenting your own perspective, presenting your information to the audience,” the Russian leader said.
On Friday, Washington ordered RT America to register as a foreign agent.
The US Department of Justice demanded that by Monday, the company that supplies all services for RT America in the US has to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The legislation was implemented in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda on US soil.