Russia Must Protect Press Freedom

（单词翻译）

The Russian government continues to stifle¹ press freedom and media independence.

The U.S., said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, “condemn(s) the selective targeting of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, or(RFE/RL), and Voice of America, or (VOA), under Russia's law on ‘foreign agent' media outlets².”

RFE/RL and VOA remain the only media outlets designated under this law, which exacerbates³ long-standing restrictions⁴ on their distribution in Russia. Moreover, on July 3 the State Duma took another step toward approving legislation that would extend the “foreign agent” designation from media outlets to individual persons taking part in the creation of materials for media outlets. This bill, warned Ms. Nauert, “could provide the Russian government a new tool to target independent journalists and bloggers in retaliation⁵ for their work.”

John Lansing, the CEO and Director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, expressed grave concern over the attack on RFE/RL and VOA.

The new Russian law, he said, “is clearly a political attack on an influential⁶ U.S. institution and an attempt to discredit⁷ the accurate, reliable news we provide to Russian audiences every day.”

Moreover, he said, this law “wrongfully stigmatizes⁸ our journalists and puts them at risk.”

The United States again calls on the Russian government to uphold its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and its obligations under the International Covenant⁹ on Civil and Political rights to respect the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, in Russia.

The “targeted campaign against RFE/RL and VOA, is worrying and unacceptable,” declared Mr. Lansing, “but it will not deter¹⁰ us from our mission to inform and engage people — in Russia and around the world — in support of freedom and democracy.”