Russia bans daily newspaper "The Moscow Times", warns of criminal prosecution of anyone who collaborates

On July 10, Russia declared The Moscow Times an "undesirable organization", banned the media outlet's activities in Russia and threatened criminal prosecution of anyone who collaborated with them.

The Moscow Times is an independent daily newspaper published in Russian and English. (Source: MT)

The Russian news agency TASS reported that the country's Prosecutor General's Office said it had designated the Netherlands -based NGO The Moscow Times (also listed as a foreign agency in Russia) as an undesirable organization.

"The aim of this news organization is to discredit the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in both domestic and foreign policy," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

By order of the Prosecutor General's Office, Russia's telecommunications and mass media watchdog earlier restricted access to The Moscow Times website in connection with the regular dissemination of publications containing socially significant inaccurate information, aimed at discrediting Russian government agencies as they conduct special military operations in Ukraine.

Founded in 1992, The Moscow Times publishes in English and Russian. It has employed prominent journalists, including Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter currently imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges.

Being labeled “undesirable” forces organizations to cease their activities in Russia, with severe penalties for Russians involved in supporting or collaborating with them, which can result in prison sentences of up to five years.

Previously, Russian authorities identified The Moscow Times as a "foreign organization" and blocked access to its website in Russia.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-cam-nhat-bao-the-moscow-times-hoat-dong-canh-bao-truy-to-hinh-su-bat-ky-ai-cong-tac-278251.html