Russia steps up pressure on “undesirable” media outlets due to fear of regime instability, UK Defence Intelligence reports
Pravda Ukraine
UK Defence Intelligence has analysed how Russia has stepped up its efforts to pressure and control the media since the start of its full-scale war against Ukraine. It is noted that in 2024, Russian courts imposed a significant number of fines on journalists or readers of media outlets deemed by the Russian authorities to be “undesirable”.
Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 15 January on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: The British analysts have relied on data from Mediazona, a Russian independent media agency, for part of their analysis.
The majority of these fines were reportedly imposed on Meduza, as well as on the US-funded Radio Liberty and the exiled Dozhd (Rain) TV.
Most of the fines were imposed on authors, editors or commentators who contributed to the publications.
The intelligence analysts note that the fines are almost certainly aimed at deterring independent media from reporting that contradicts or criticises the official Russian narrative on the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Quote: “The fines are almost certainly intended to deter independent media outlets from reporting anything that contradicts or criticises official Russian narratives,” UK intelligence reports.
The analysis noted that this activity fits into the overall picture of the Russian government’s increased efforts to control the media and further restrict freedom of speech following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Russian efforts to constrain independent media will highly likely continue throughout the conflict (Russia’s war against Ukraine – ed.), reflecting heightened leadership sensitivity to the conflict’s inherent potential to impact regime stability,” UK Defence Intelligence concluded.
Background:
- Russia has long been arbitrarily detaining and expelling foreign journalists. This mostly occurs when its agents are exposed overseas.
- In August 2024, it was reported that two Italian journalists who angered Moscow with a television report from the Ukrainian-controlled part of Russia’s Kursk Oblast would return to Italy.
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