Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: Reuters)
Russia warned the European Union on Wednesday that if the bloc imposed restrictions on Russian media, Western reporters in Russia would feel a swift, harsh and painful response from the Russian state.
European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the EU would sanction Voice of Europe, along with Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Ria Novosti and Izvestia, Bloomberg reported on May 6.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Western correspondents in Moscow would feel a backlash if the European Union took action against Russian media.
“If these measures are taken against the Russian media and Russian journalists, despite the fact that Western correspondents do not want them, they will also have to feel our retaliation,” Zakharova said.
“They felt our love before, but now they will have to feel the reaction,” Zakharova said. “We will respond with lightning speed and extremely painfully for the Westerners.” Zakharova said any move to restrict any Russian media would immediately lead to a backlash in Russia against Western correspondents.
“If just one Russian media outlet is subjected to unjustified restrictions, it will reflect on their colleagues here in Russia, I mean, Western journalists,” Zakharova said.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: May 15, 2024 | 2:46 PM IST