MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The news about the annulment of the deal came after reports of Jaroslav Reznik, the TASR CEO, having been invited to attend the session of the Slovak Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Media to provide information on the cooperation with Sputnik. At the same time, major Czech and Slovak media began accusing TASR of signing an agreement with a "pro-Kremlin agency."
"It is obvious that the European Union is systematically renouncing the freedom of speech and trying to control information sources. The TASR office confirmed yet again that the authorities in Slovakia are telling the media who is their friend and who is their enemy," Sputnik press service said.
It is important to note that throughout the talks on the contract with Sputnik, the management of TASR did not have any doubts about the agency's reliability and professionalism. It was proved by the words of the Slovak agency's editor-in-chief who said during the talks that "TASR is always glad to cooperate with reliable foreign media."
Baltic countries have also been actively impeding Sputnik's work. In the spring of 2016, Latvia blocked the website of the local branch of Sputnik, purportedly over its breach of the resolution of the Council of the European Union related to the threat to Ukrainian sovereignty.
In February this year, Sputnik learned that Estonian special services recommended that the country's officials do not talk to the agency.
Sputnik is a news agency and radio network with multimedia news hubs in dozens of countries. Sputnik broadcasts in over 30 languages through its websites, as well as on analogue and digital radio, mobile applications, and social media. Sputnik newswires, which are available by subscription, are updated 24/7 in English, Arabic, Spanish and Chinese.
