"If [the US authorities] take any actions to hampering the operations of Russian media in the United States, we will be forced to react on the basis of reciprocity," Georgiy Borisenko, the head of the North America Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Sputnik in an interview, noting that the United States "has always considered itself as a benchmark of democracy and freedom of speech, but now they are trying to censor a TV channel providing information that does not fit to the standard US agenda."
Over recent months, the RT broadcaster and the Sputnik news agency have faced pressure over allegations concerning their role in the 2016 US presidential election. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. In late September, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow would take necessary measures against US-funded media having an audience in Russia if Washington does not cease putting pressure on RT and Sputnik.
