Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter has announced that the latest US sanctions imposed on RT mean he will no longer be able to contribute to the Russian media outlet. Ritter insisted that his engagement with RT has been nothing but “legitimate journalism.”
A former US Marine Corps major who also served as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq during the 1990s, Ritter came into the spotlight in 2003 when he opposed the US military operation against the Middle Eastern country. He argued that Saddam Hussein’s government did not possess weapons of mass destruction, despite Washington’s claims.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Ritter stressed that the content of his contributions for RT and several other sanctioned media outlets “has been factually correct and analytically sound, and always of my own creation.”
While condemning Washington’s decision as running counter to “constitutional norms and values,” Ritter noted that he is “fully committed to obeying US law, and as such will be terminating all contractual relationships with both RT and Sputnik effective immediately.”
He expressed gratitude to his Russian colleagues for their “professionalism” and vowed to “continue to exercise my free speech rights… as a journalist free from government influence or control.”
On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions against several Russian media outlets, including RT and a number of its employees. The US authorities accused the media outlet of “covertly recruit[ing] unwitting American influencers” in a bid to “undermine confidence in the United States’ election processes and institutions” ahead of the November 5 presidential election.
Aside from visa restrictions, the targeted entities and individuals will have their property rights on US soil blocked, with all transactions prohibited unless a special waver is issued.
“The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person,” the document clarified.
Last month, Ritter accused the US government of committing an “act of intimidation” and “declaring war” on him after FBI agents raided his house in New York State. The journalist said at the time that officials suspected him of working “on behalf of the Russian government” in violation of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act.
An FBI spokesperson, in turn, confirmed “law enforcement activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation,” but would not reveal any details.
Ritter dismissed the allegations against him as “absurd in the extreme.”
RT: Unions condemn British police over arrest of journalist
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UK’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have condemned the recent arrest in the UK of reporter Richard Medhurst. In a joint letter addressed to New Scotland Yard anti-terrorism head Matt Jukes and dated Tuesday, the unions said they were “shocked” and “concerned” over what they consider “efforts to stifle press freedom.”
A British citizen of Syrian descent, Medhurst was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport on August 15. According to his own account provided to several media outlets, he was pulled off a plane and taken to a police station, where he was held for over 24 hours. His phone and work equipment were seized, while Medhurst himself was subjected to a search and a questioning.
He was told he was arrested under Section 12 of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 on charges of “expressing an opinion or a belief that is supportive of a proscribed organization.” He was eventually let go, but said he does not yet know whether he will be charged with any offense.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, and Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary, said Medhurst’s arrest “will likely have a chilling effect on journalists in the UK and worldwide,” as they would now fear arrest by UK authorities “simply for carrying out their work.”
“Both the NUJ and IFJ are shocked at the increased use of terrorism legislation by the British police in this manner. Journalism is not a crime,” they stated, arguing that the “powers contained in anti-terror legislation must be deployed proportionately – not wielded against journalists in ways that inevitably stifle press freedom.” They requested a meeting with Jukes, urging UK authorities to provide “clarity” on Medhurst’s case.
The Terrorism Act 2000 gives police wide powers to prosecute and punish offenses linked with terrorism. Its Section 12 criminalizes anyone who “invites support” for an organization designated as terrorist or “expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive” of it. A person found guilty of an offense under this section could face imprisonment for up to 14 years and a hefty fine.
Medhurst told the Anadolu news agency that he was never given a clear reason for his detention, but said it was likely linked to his reporting on the war in Gaza. The journalist is a vocal supporter of Palestine and its militant group Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the UK government.
He also warned that his arrest could set a dangerous precedent, noting that London is increasingly using the Terrorism Act “not against terrorists, but against political dissidents.”
Medhurst covers international affairs on his YouTube channel and hosts a program on Iran’s Press TV, while also publishing opinion pieces in other outlets. He previously contributed several articles to RT.
on September 5, 2024, 9:22 pm