““We believe that RT will almost certainly expand its covert capabilities to try to manipulate the outcome of the upcoming elections in Moldova””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
He referred to new data from the US government, according to which RT is involved in covert influence operations around the world.
“These Kremlin-backed media companies are not only playing this covert role in undermining democracy in the US, but also in meddling in the sovereign affairs of countries around the world. Thanks to new information, much of which comes from RT employees, we know that RT has cyber capabilities and is involved in covert information influence operations and military procurement,” he said.
Read also: US special services believe that the RT network swayed Americans to support Trump – Reuters
In particular, according to Blinken, in the spring of 2023, the Russian government created a unit within the RT structure with capabilities for cyber operations and connections with Russian intelligence:
“Information obtained by this unit reaches Russian intelligence services, Russian media, mercenary groups and other proxies of the Russian government. One of his projects is a large online fundraising campaign in Russia, which works within RT and through social media channels, to provide support and military equipment to Russian military units in Ukraine.”
The list of purchased goods includes sniper rifles, silencers, body armor, night vision devices, drones, diesel generators, the State Secretary listed. He specified that, although the collection campaign is public, the fact that it is administered by the RT leadership is hidden.
In addition, Blinken pointed to RT’s news operations in countries around the world: in Germany, he said, the Russian company secretly operates the English-language Red platform, the successor to the defunct Redfish. RT also secretly operates the African Stream online social media platform.
“According to the website, it is a pan-African media organization based exclusively on social media and focused on giving a voice to all Africans at home and abroad. In fact, the only voice it gives is the Kremlin’s propagandists,” said Blinken.
He also stated that RT coordinated with Russian authorities to influence elections in Moldova, including in October 2024. The Secretary of State suggested that the purpose of the operation was to incite protests in this country.
“We believe that RT will almost certainly expand its covert capabilities to try to manipulate the consequences of the upcoming elections in Moldova in coordination with Russian special services,” he added.
According to the Secretary of State, today the State Department is imposing sanctions against three legal entities and two individuals over Russia’s global covert influence operation, “including interference in the democratic process and upcoming elections in Moldova.”
According to the State Department, the following are subject to sanctions:
- Russian state news agency Rossiya Segodnya
- non-profit organization “TV-Novosti” as “an organization with federal funding related to “Russia Today”
- general director of “Russia Today” Dmytro Kiselyov
- non-profit organization “Eurasia”
- its founder Nelly Parutenko
According to the diplomatic agency, Eurasia and Parutenko are responsible for the “scheme to support malicious information efforts” of the sanctioned Moldovan party “Shor”.
On September 4, the United States imposed sanctions against the editor-in-chief of the Russian state media network RT Margarita Simonyan and nine other people in connection with attempts to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Two RT employees, Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasieva, have been charged with conspiracy to launder money and violating the US Foreign Agents Act.