Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Russia Ups Legal Pressure on Foreign Media Outlets

Jessica Jerreat

   WASHINGTON - At an appeals hearing Tuesday, Russian prosecutors accused
   journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva of being a "mouthpiece of the West" as
   the court upheld her conviction of "justifying terrorism."

   The hearing came amid a wider backdrop of Moscow taking legal action
   against her employer, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. A Russian court
   last month fined the independent U.S.-funded news network for not
   complying with its foreign agents law.

   Russia's use of legal action against RFE/RL is an attempt to cut off
   access to independent media, media and regional analysts say.

   Moscow has been "building a web of laws and restrictions non-stop
   against RFE," said Thomas Kent in an interview with VOA's Russian
   service. Kent was president of the network from 2016 to 2018.

   The fines against RFE/RL are a sign that Russia is implementing those
   laws, Gulnoza Said, from the New York-based Committee to Protect
   Journalists (CPJ), told VOA.

.