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Moscow slams European resolution on media as ‘example of discrimination’

"The European Union’s propaganda machine has crossed all possible borders," Russia’s OSCE envoy Alexander Lukashevich said.
Russia’s OSCE envoy Alexander Lukashevich Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Russia’s OSCE envoy Alexander Lukashevich
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

VIENNA, November 25. /TASS/. The recently adopted European Parliament resolution aimed against propaganda of third states, including Russia, has a taint of Russophobia and serves as an example of discrimination against the Russian media, a senior Russian diplomat said.

Russia’s OSCE envoy Alexander Lukashevich told a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday evening that the resolution, headlined "EU strategic communications. With a view to counteracting propaganda," "openly sets a task of countering Russian media" and causes "extreme resentment".

"The resolution, apart from its noticeable taint of Russophobia, serves as an ugly example of discrimination against the Russian media and contradicts not only key international standards in the freedom of expression, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and (other) OSCE commitments, but also the European Union’s own standards for human rights and media freedoms," he said.

"Moreover, it is absolutely inadmissible to equate actions against the so-called Russian threat and the fight against the terrorist organization of the Islamic State. The European Union’s propaganda machine has crossed all possible borders," Lukashevich continued.

The diplomat said the authors of similar initiatives "are afraid of Russian reporters to the point when they are ready to violate the democratic principles that they are so protective of."

On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution aimed at combating propaganda of third countries, including Russia. The resolution mentions Russian TV channel RT, the Sputnik news agency, the Russkiy Mir (or Russian World) Foundation and the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

The document was sharply criticized by the Russian leadership. President Vladimir Putin, in particular, said it demonstrated political degradation of ideas of democracy.