U.S. sanctions Russian media outlets for election interference
The United States has imposed sanctions on the media group Russia Today and other propaganda outlets—RIA Novosti, Sputnik, and Ruptly. The blacklist also includes Putin's "favourite" Margarita Simonyan and many other top managers of Russia Today.
President Joe Biden's administration announced a series of sanctions, charges, and other actions Wednesday in response to Russian attempts to interfere in this year's U.S. elections. The Department of Justice seized 32 internet domains used for spreading disinformation, and charges were brought against two employees of the RT channel.
"Russian state-sponsored actors have long used a variety of tools, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) deep fakes and disinformation, in an attempt to undermine confidence in the United States’ election processes and institutions. Beginning in early 2024, executives at RT—Russia’s state-funded news media outlet—began an even more nefarious effort to covertly recruit unwitting American influencers in support of their malign influence campaign," reads the statement.
During Wednesday's press conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that U.S. law enforcement discovered and disrupted a wide-ranging election influence campaign, including covertly paying American influencers and commentators to disseminate Russian propaganda. Prosecutors have filed charges in this case against two RT employees, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva.
"Today's action underscores the continued efforts of the U.S. government to hold state-sponsored entities accountable for actions aimed at undermining public trust in our institutions," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Garland announced that his department also seized 32 internet domains used by Russia to disseminate disinformation on social media and websites resembling legitimate media as part of the previously known operation Doppelganger. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and two entities involved in these activities, including RT head Margarita Simonyan, Putin's "favourite."
