Russian Journalists Turn to UK Union Over Blocking of RT Accounts

The Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) has turned to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) of the United Kingdom and Ireland and other international organizations over the UK decision to block the accounts of the RT broadcaster, RUJ Executive Secretary Nadezhda Azhgihina said on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, RT's Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan said the broadcaster's accounts had been blocked in the United Kingdom. However, she stated that the incident would not prevent RT from working in the United Kingdom.

"The Russian Union of Journalists has just contacted the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) of the United Kingdom and Ireland and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) over this issue. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the EFJ, as well as OSCE and UNESCO and all credible organizations protecting the freedom of speech has repeatedly condemned shutdown of Russian and other media in a number of countries, considering the move a blatant violation of rules and principles of the free flow of information," Azhgihina, who is also the EFJ vice president, told RIA Novosti.

Azhgihina expressed hope that this situation would get an assessment of the expert community and would be dealt with. She also reiterated her willingness that the RT broadcaster resumed its work in the United Kingdom.

Earlier in the day, RUJ Secretary Timur Shafir said that such politically-motivated decisions were hardly compatible with constant claims about commitment to principles of democracy, such as freedom of speech and independent work.