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Russian officials and media figures mocked U.S. allegations of election interference on Thursday, with President Vladimir Putin adding a teasing tone by sarcastically endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. The U.S. Justice Department recently accused the Russian state-owned broadcaster RT of conducting a covert campaign to influence American public opinion ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The department has charged two state media employees and sanctioned ten individuals and two entities, along with seizing Kremlin-linked websites.
While the U.S. did not specify which candidate was favored by the propaganda effort, internal documents suggest former President Donald Trump was the intended beneficiary. Despite this, the Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in U.S. elections since 2016, dismissing these claims as baseless. Russia’s Foreign Ministry vowed to retaliate against U.S. media operations in Russia. Margarita Simonyan, head of RT and recently sanctioned by Russia Mocks U.S. Election allegations on social media, referring to them as outdated.
Putin’s Remarks and Russia’s Media Strategy
During an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin did not address the specific allegations but made comments about the U.S. election, where Harris is the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden opted not to seek reelection. Putin, with a wry smile, suggested that Russia would back Harris, claiming, “We had the current president, Mr. Biden, as our favorite but he was taken out of the race. He recommended all his supporters back Mrs. Harris, so we will too.” He further joked about Harris’s “expressive and infectious laugh” as a sign of her well-being, hinting that her success might prevent additional sanctions on Russia.
Historically, Putin has shown support for Trump, authorizing operations to aid his 2020 campaign and praising him as “outstanding” and “talented” in 2016. U.S. intelligence has consistently maintained that Russia prefers Trump, who has been vocal in his praise for Putin and has suggested cutting aid to Ukraine. Simonyan, while dismissing the recent allegations, has previously acknowledged RT’s involvement in “info wars,” using covert sources to disseminate pro-Kremlin narratives in the U.S., highlighting the ongoing rivalry between Russian and American intelligence efforts.
Retaliatory Measures and Media Crackdown by Russia Mocks U.S. Election
In response to the latest U.S. actions, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Russia would take retaliatory measures against U.S. media in Russia, criticizing the Justice Department’s actions as contrary to U.S. commitments to media freedom and pluralism. Simonyan described the interplay between RT and the CIA as a “cat and mouse” game, emphasizing the ongoing and often covert struggle between the two nations’ media and intelligence operations.
Meanwhile, Russia Mocks U.S. Election continues to intensify its crackdown on independent journalists, activists, and citizens, curbing free expression within the country. As tensions between Russia and the U.S. escalate, these latest allegations and retaliations underscore the deepening divide and the persistent challenges in ensuring media freedom and unbiased information dissemination on both sides.
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