Foreign influence – Page 18 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry says Twitter no longer independent social media, but a tool of ‘digital diktat’ under control of West

Posted on February 28, 2021By Editor

Twitter is rapidly changing from an independent platform into a tool of Western countries to impose a dictatorship over the internet. That’s according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, following a recent ban of Russian accounts. … Read More >Russian Foreign Ministry says Twitter no longer independent social media, but a tool of ‘digital diktat’ under control of West

World

West ‘obsessed’ with imposing its own version of democracy in Belarus, country’s FM claims, urging closer ties with Russia instead

Posted on February 28, 2021February 28, 2021By Editor

When it comes to protest-hit Belarus, the US and EU are intent on imposing their own systems and values with no regard for the country’s own journey to democracy, its foreign minister has said, after successive waves of sanctions. … Read More >West ‘obsessed’ with imposing its own version of democracy in Belarus, country’s FM claims, urging closer ties with Russia instead

Venezuelan lawmakers back expulsion of EU ambassador after Brussels slaps sanctions on Caracas officials

Posted on February 25, 2021February 25, 2021By Editor

Venezuela’s National Assembly has backed a move to kick the EU’s ambassador to Caracas out of the county and rejected Brussel’s decision to sanction 19 Venezuelan officials for “undermining democracy” and human rights abuses. … Read More >Venezuelan lawmakers back expulsion of EU ambassador after Brussels slaps sanctions on Caracas officials

Russia

Moscow ‘disappointed’ with Brussels ‘pressing dysfunctional sanctions button’ as EU prepares new blacklist over Navalny’s jailing

Posted on February 24, 2021February 24, 2021By Editor

Russia has expressed “disappointment” with the EU plan to slap new sanctions on Moscow over the imprisonment of activist blogger Alexey Navalny, with the foreign ministry calling the move political and unrelated to human rights. … Read More >Moscow ‘disappointed’ with Brussels ‘pressing dysfunctional sanctions button’ as EU prepares new blacklist over Navalny’s jailing

Journalism & Mass media

Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to “weaken Russia,” leaked docs reveal

Posted on February 22, 2021February 22, 2021By Editor

New leaked documents show Reuters’ and the BBC’s involvement in covert UK FCO programs to effect “attitudinal change” and “weaken the Russian state’s influence,” alongside intel contractors and Bellingcat. … Read More >Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to “weaken Russia,” leaked docs reveal

Russia

Leaked papers allege massive UK govt effort to co-opt Russian-language anti-Kremlin media & influencers to ‘weaken Russian state’

Posted on February 19, 2021February 19, 2021By Editor

For all its alarmism about Russian ‘propaganda’ and ‘misinformation’, the UK government appears to be behind a multi-million-pound push to boost negative coverage of the Russian state, both in Russia and neighbouring countries. … Read More >Leaked papers allege massive UK govt effort to co-opt Russian-language anti-Kremlin media & influencers to ‘weaken Russian state’

Russia

Russia slams ‘interference’ from European Court of Human Rights over demands to free jailed opposition figure Alexey Navalny

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

Moscow has rejected a ruling by judges in Strasbourg, who have ordered the immediate release of anti-corruption campaigner Alexey Navalny from a Russian prison, where he is facing a three-and-a-half year sentence for fraud. … Read More >Russia slams ‘interference’ from European Court of Human Rights over demands to free jailed opposition figure Alexey Navalny

Russia

Western countries imposing sanctions on Nord Stream 2 want to make Russia pay for ‘geopolitical project’ in Ukraine, Putin says

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

Many Western states oppose the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline because they want Russia to pay for their geopolitical project in Ukraine. That’s according to President Vladimir Putin, who called the actions “primitive.” … Read More >Western countries imposing sanctions on Nord Stream 2 want to make Russia pay for ‘geopolitical project’ in Ukraine, Putin says

Russia

Russia tightens ‘foreign agents’ law for groups receiving overseas funding, to ‘prevent interference’ from hostile governments

Posted on February 17, 2021February 17, 2021By Editor

Lawmakers in Moscow have voted through tough new measures and steep fines against organizations that they say exist to do the work of foreign states in Russia, as well as those who amplify and share their messages in the media. … Read More >Russia tightens ‘foreign agents’ law for groups receiving overseas funding, to ‘prevent interference’ from hostile governments

Russia

Despite Russian desire for better communication, talks with West impeded by ‘manic insistence’ on sanctions focus, Kremlin says

Posted on February 17, 2021By Editor

Russia’s dialogue with the West is hindered by the obsession of the EU and US with talking about sanctions, according to the Kremlin, which added that the threat of coercive measures means Moscow remains constantly mobilized. … Read More >Despite Russian desire for better communication, talks with West impeded by ‘manic insistence’ on sanctions focus, Kremlin says