Russian Media Outlets Targeted in US Sanctions
The Biden administration has accused Russia of conducting a long-term disinformation campaign aimed at influencing the upcoming US presidential election. In a direct condemnation, the US government highlighted the role of Russian state-backed media, including RT (formerly Russia Today), in disseminating pro-Kremlin messages to American voters. The Treasury Department sanctioned RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, and nine other network employees for their involvement in the operation. Simonyan is labeled as a key player in Russia’s efforts to spread malign influence, according to US officials.
Covert Recruitment of American Influencers
US government accuses RT of spending millions to recruit “unwitting” American influencers to propagate disinformation, undermining both US election integrity and foreign policy goals, particularly with regard to Ukraine. The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, charged two RT employees with money laundering and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Garland stated that RT’s tactics, including spoofing US media websites like Fox News and The Washington Post, were directed by the Kremlin to manipulate American voters.
Broader Crackdown on Foreign Interference
As part of broader sanctions, the US State Department also announced limitations on visa issuance for certain Russian state media employees. It declared that the media organization Rossiya Segodnya would now be treated as a foreign mission, requiring it to disclose further details about its operations within the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller pointed out that RT had evolved beyond its media role, now serving as a Kremlin propaganda tool.
Expanding Efforts to Thwart Election Interference
This crackdown on Russian disinformation follows a similar US accusation against Iran for leading foreign interference efforts. In August, US intelligence agencies linked Iran to a hack targeting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Garland vowed continued aggressive action to counter election meddling by Russia, Iran, China, and other foreign actors.
