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🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s comment on Russian Press Day
💬 January 13 marks Russian Press Day.
The origins of this holiday date back to 1703, when, on January 13, the first issue of the newspaper founded by Peter the Great, "Vedomosti (Bulletin) on Military and Other Affairs Worthy of Being Known and Remembered, Occurring in the Moscow State and Neighbouring Countries", was published. This landmark event marked the beginning of Russian journalism.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all journalists, editors, publishers, proofreaders, designers, layout specialists, and other professionals involved in producing newspapers, magazines, and digital media. Dedication, hard work, integrity, devotion to one’s craft, and creative talent has always been the hallmark of this profession. In Russia, media professionals have traditionally held themselves to the highest standards, which have earned them well-deserved respect in society.
❗️ Today, Russian journalists are entrusted with an additional critical mission to counter the onslaught of lies and disinformation used by Russia’s opponents as a weapon against its people.
Despite the unprecedented media pressure exerted by the West, Russian news media successfully continue to deliver the truth about current and historical events to audiences both domestically and globally. <...>
Journalists are being targeted by the criminal Kiev regime, which finds exposing its terrorist nature more fearsome than its outrageous battlefield losses. I’m talking about war correspondents that put their lives on the line daily covering events on the frontlines and all dedicated professionals who continue to perform their duties honestly and remain true to their convictions, despite persecution in NATO-centric countries and the risk of falling victim to the Zelensky regime militants.
🌐 Overcoming censorship and sanctions imposed by the "collective West", Russian media outlets continue to move forward and to grow their international audiences, and frequently surpass their once-renowned Western competitors - now reduced to pseudo-journalism - in media rankings.
Amid this wave of Western reprisals and violence against Russian media and journalists, key international organisations such as UNESCO, the OSCE, the UN Human Rights Office, and others that are charged with safeguarding media workers’ safety and promoting press freedom remain conspicuously silent or get away with meaningless general statements, effectively covering up those who are responsible for the killings of journalists, and thus become complicit in these crimes.
A striking example of such cynical hypocrisy was the 2022-2023 draft report on journalist safety and the issue of impunity by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. This report deliberately ignored numerous documented cases of Russian journalists and war correspondents killed by Ukrainian nationalists.
While the adoption of this controversial document was prevented, correcting these unacceptable practices within UNESCO will demand even more energetic efforts.
In light of this, we will continue to push for the unfailing compliance with the principles ensuring free access to information, media pluralism, and the creation of the most favourable and safe working environment for the Russian media and journalists abroad. To commemorate those who laid down their lives in the name the profession and to prevent future tragedies, we will make every effort to ensure that international institutions established to protect all journalists without exception operate with integrity and effectiveness.
👏 We wish the entire Russian professional community of journalists and media professionals continued success, creative inspiration, good health, and prosperity.
BY Russian Delegation to UNESCO
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