Russia will expel Western journalists and newspapers if YouTube blocks the spokesperson’s content

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova – Photo: TASS

According to Reuters news agency, Maria Zakharova is the organizer of weekly information sessions on Russian foreign policy, including information about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. The meeting is broadcast on YouTube. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned YouTube about stopping the broadcast of her meeting content.

“We told them (YouTube): if one more press conference is blocked, a Western journalist or press company will be blocked. expulsion“, TASS news agency quoted Maria Zakharova.

Recently, Russian lawmakers passed a bill that would allow the closure of the offices of foreign press agencies in Moscow if a Western country acts “unfriendly” towards the Russian media.

This measure is in retaliation for the closure of some Russian state news agencies in Western countries.

On May 25, Zakharova also said that Russia is taking measures against English-language media channels in response to the “unfriendly actions” of foreign governments with Russian news agencies. However, she did not elaborate on the measures that would be used by Russia.

In March 2022, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that would allow prison sentences of up to 15 years for those who spread “fake news” about the military. Following this decision, a number of Western media outlets withdrew their journalists from Russia. However, a number of other news agencies, including Reuters news agency, remained in Russia.

In March 2022, YouTube said it would block access to channels of Russian state media outlets globally under its policy of banning content that denies, minimizes or normalizes violent events. .