A Moscow court fined Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) 20 million rubles ($325.000) for "false" content about Russia's "military operation" in Ukraine, Interfax reported, citing Reuters. .
Russia's media regulator blocked the RFE/RL site in early March along with other world media.
In March, Russia introduced a censorship law that forced many foreign media outlets to withdraw from the country. The law declared it a criminal offense to spread "false" information about the invasion of Ukraine, and foresees penalties of up to 15 years in prison.
RFE/RL's nine Russian-language websites and 18 of its Russian journalists have previously been labeled "foreign agents." The block prevents the access of Russian users to the site of the Russian service of Radio Free Europe.
On Friday, June 3, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a message to legal representatives of foreign media located in Moscow with the intention of "explaining" the consequences of what it calls "hostile actions by the West."
This was stated by the spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, inviting representatives of the Western media to the meeting.
Zaharova said that the press center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will explain the consequences of the "hostile policy of their governments" to representatives of the Western media at the planned meeting.
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