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Russia to deport US journalists if YouTube blocks Foreign Ministry’s briefing — diplomat

These actions are only a counter reaction by the Russian side, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underscored

MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. The Russian side will expel an American journalist or one of American media outlets if a briefing by the Russian Foreign Ministry is blocked again on YouTube, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a roundtable on the role of information in a standoff with the West on Thursday.

"I had a couple of briefings blocked. What we did - we simply went and said: ‘If you block a briefing once again, one reporter or one American media outlet will go home.’ That’s it. This is not along the lines of ‘do whatever you want.’ Another blocked briefing, and we will name a particular name or a particular media outlet that will return home," the diplomat said.

"And taking into account that a lady with Polish citizenship is involved in all of this and considering Poland’s stance, perhaps, we won’t limit ourselves only to American [media outlets]," she added.

That said, Zakharova stressed that these actions are only a counter reaction by the Russian side and it is necessary to conduct comprehensive work on Russia’s information and digital sovereignty.