A Russian news outlet is suing the country’s Foreign Ministry for withholding information on meetings between Russia’s ambassador to the United States and top officials from the Trump administration.
The Mediazona website filed a lawsuit on April 7, accusing the Foreign Ministry of “illegal inaction.”
Officials refused to answer journalists' requests for details on Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak’s meetings with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Trump advisor Jared Kushner, and the former head of Trump’s campaign headquarters Paul Manafort.
In a written response, the ministry said that "the content of such meetings do not belong in the public sphere." It also said the good practice did not allow them to make information public without the consent of both parties.
The Mediazona lawsuit disputes the decision, which it says violates media law by withholding information not classified as a state or commercial secret.
Speaking on Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed the case as a PR stunt.
She said that officials had answered the media outlet's requests, but simply "not in the way that Mediazona wanted to hear."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
