US Government Targets Russian State TV Station RT Over Alleged Interference in Global Affairs

The US government has made serious allegations against the Russian state TV channel RT, accusing it of interfering in the “sovereign affairs of countries around the world.” According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, RT has cyber capabilities and is involved in covert intelligence and influence operations, working closely with the Russian military.

The US State Department views RT as “a direct branch of the Russian government,” responsible for spreading misinformation and participating in the Russian government’s intelligence and operations in the war in Ukraine. One notable project is a large online crowdfunding program in Russia, distributed on RT and through social media channels, to support Russian military units in Ukraine and provide them with military equipment and weapons.

Another example of RT’s influence is the hidden English platform “Red” (theread.stream), operated from Berlin. Despite claims on the company’s website, Red is a successor to the now-defunct RT Redfish platform, which was operated by the Turkish public company AFA Medya, according to the US State Department.

RT also supports the Russian government’s efforts to influence elections in Moldova. “RT leadership has used media platforms funded and controlled by the Russian state to try to foment unrest in Moldova,” Blinken stated.

The US government previously accused Russia of meddling in the US presidential election in November. The United States sanctioned several individuals and entities, including representatives of RT. According to the US government’s assessment, efforts to influence Moscow are initiated from the top, with the inner circle around the Kremlin, headed by Vladimir Putin, instructing Russian PR companies to “promote disinformation and state-sponsored narratives as part of a campaign to influence the 2024 US presidential election.”