The Kremlin has struck back at what it calls a “Russophobic course” and the proliferation of Western “fakes” by banning another 92 Americans from entering the country, including prominent journalists from leading US newspapers.
The latest round of restrictions was announced by Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, which specifically targeted reporters from prominent US media houses. It said the outlets were spreading misinformation and propaganda against Russia. But in the broader context, this action highlights the escalating tensions between Moscow and the West, particularly concerning press freedoms and information warfare. The newly banned citizens include prominent journalists, many of whom have been critical of the Russian government. As many as 23 journalists, including Emma Tucker, were named. The list also includes individuals from various sectors, including law enforcement, academia, and business.
The Russian Foreign Ministry justified the ban in a statement, and pointed at the US administration’s sanctions and “a broader hybrid war” that was being waged against Russia. It specifically accused restricted journalists of producing and spreading “fakes” about Russia and its military, and claimed that their actions served as propaganda tools for Washington’s policies. It may be mentioned here that last week, the US Departments of the Treasury and State targeted nearly 400 individuals and entities both within Russia and across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East for allegedly supporting Russia and its military actions in Ukraine.
Not a first
This is not the first time Russia has imposed such restrictions. The past decade has seen travel bans, sanctions, and other measures to silence critics. It is said that the Kremlin expanded the blacklist due to the ongoing criticism by the West of how Russia was handling the Ukraine war. In fact, more than 2,000 US citizens have been banned from entering the country.
For example, just two months ago, Russia banned 81 media outlets from 25 European Union countries. However, that move was in retaliation for the EU’s earlier decision to strip broadcasting rights from several Russian media networks, a move the Union had described as “Kremlin-linked propaganda”. But the reason given for that ban was the same: EU journalists were accused of systematically spreading misinformation about Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
In March of this year, 227 American citizens, including three journalists and 67 scholars specializing in Russian politics and culture, were barred from reentering the country. In August last year, Moscow had also banned 54 British nationals, including prominent journalists, media executives, and senior politicians like Minister of State for Defense Annabel Goldie and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
The ban comes just weeks after the high-profile release of journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia for 16 months on espionage charges. His arrest in March 2023 marked the first such case since the Cold War. His imprisonment and subsequent release in a prisoner swap highlighted the precarious situation for foreign journalists operating in Russia. The arrest also prompted many Western media organizations to pull their correspondents out of Russia over “safety concerns” and the “increasingly hostile environment” for independent journalism.
US-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press condemned the latest bans and dubbed them part of Kremlin’s “all-out assault on free press and truth”. The non-profit organization decried the bans as “unwarranted efforts to target journalists”, and vowed that the global media would continue to keep the public informed.
The latest bans would further strain US-Russia relations, which are already at a low ebb. The US continues to severely criticize Russia for its actions in Ukraine and treatment of journalists covering the war. However, despite all that criticism and ongoing tensions between the arch rivals, Russia seems determined to continue its course.
