The US imposed sanctions against Kiselyov and Russia Today due to suspicions of cooperation with special services
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group and its general director, the well-known propagandist Dmytro Kiselyov.
According to the updated list on site OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury), on September 13, several Russian organizations were sanctioned. These are the autonomous non-profit organization (ANO) “TV Novosti” (the official name of the RT propaganda channel), the ANO “Evraziya” and the state enterprise MIA “Россия сегодня”. Dmytro Kiselyov, general director of Rossiya Segodnya, as well as Nellie Parutenko, a citizen of Russia and Moldova, who manages ANO Eurasia, were included in the sanctioned list of individuals.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized that the Rossiya Segodnya media group, which includes such propaganda media as RIA Novosti, Sputnik and Russia Today, not only spreads disinformation about the Russian Federation, but also performs the functions of a unit of Russian intelligence.
Blinken also added that the RT channel took part in influence operations in various countries of the world, in particular, in the creation of fake media in Germany and Africa, as well as in attempts to interfere in the presidential elections in Moldova.
The only official reaction from Russia so far was the comment of Maria Zakharova, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“I think that a new profession should appear in the USA – a specialist in the sanctions imposed against Russia. Someone should ensure that the sanctions are at least not repeated. Otherwise, they have already left RT after the second round,” she wrote in her telegram -channels.
Sanctions against Russian propagandists
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned 10 individuals and 2 entities as part of the coordination of the US government’s response to Russia’s attempts to influence the 2024 presidential election.
Since early 2024, RT executives have reportedly become more active on a covert recruitment campaign aimed at recruiting American influencers to support their malicious information campaign.
