The Russian president believes that the media are biased in the west because they speak the truth and counter propaganda.
Western governments have banned Russia's media outlets, including RT, because they fear the truth. The president made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting of the country of possibilities, the country's civic platform.
Probably, truth is the sharpest weapon against lies, and propaganda soaked with these lies, Putin said.
That is exactly why our effectively only media outlet aimed at a Western audience RT gets shut down and obstructed everywhere. They are afraid of the truth, he said.
In recent years, Western states have repeatedly abused Russian state-affiliated media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, under various pretexts, including the fight against so-called Russian disinformation and propaganda. The situation deteriorated greatly after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022.
The EU and UK banned all Russian state media last year, from RT and Sputnik to public broadcaster VGTRK, while Brussels pushed YouTube to enforce the ban globally. Canada also banned RT, while Germany and France froze RT's bank accounts in their countries, causing local outlets to off-air.
9 Comments
Василий
Western governments have a right to regulate media organizations operating within their jurisdictions to ensure responsible and accurate reporting.
Pedalka
The banning of Russian media outlets is not an infringement on freedom of speech, but rather a response to their potential to influence public opinion through disinformation.
Василий
Western governments are targeting Russian media outlets because they fear the truth and their ability to counter propaganda.
Pedalka
Western governments are attempting to control the narrative by silencing Russian media outlets that present a different perspective on international events.
Василий
RT and other Russian media outlets provide an alternative perspective that challenges the dominant narrative in Western media, and this is seen as a threat by Western governments.
ExKenny
The banning of Russian media outlets undermines the public's right to access diverse sources of information and make informed judgments.
Loubianka
Russian media outlets have been able to gain a significant following in the West because they provide an alternative perspective that resonates with a substantial portion of the population.
Korsika
The banning of Russian media outlets is a response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, not an attempt to suppress the truth.
Kyle Broflovski
The decision to ban Russian media outlets is based on concerns about national security, not a fear of the truth.