- In 2024, Russian courts issued a significant number of fines to journalists or readers of media outlets that the Russian authorities declared “undesirable”, according to Russian independent media organisation Mediazona. The majority of these fines were reportedly levied against Latvia-based Meduza, with others including US-funded Radio Liberty / RFE outlets, and exiled Dozhd (Rain) TV also fined. Most fines targeted authors, editors or commentators who contributed to publications.
- The fines are almost certainly intended to deter independent media outlets from reporting anything that contradicts or criticises official Russian narratives regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.The fines are intended to deter and intimidate those in Russia who engage with independent media and reject government-controlled narratives disseminated via state-controlled media.
- This activity fits with a pattern of increased Russian government efforts to control the media and further restrict freedom of speech since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Most independent Russian media has been shuttered or forced abroad, and the Russian government has instituted and enforced increasingly draconian restrictions on citizens abilities to access foreign media. Russian efforts to constrain independent media will highly likely continue throughout the conflict, reflecting heightened leadership sensitivity to the conflict’s inherent potential to impact regime stability.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 15 January 2025.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 15, 2025
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/EOO8QFFSDj#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/aVw0u4aLZm
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