Following the approval of the legislation that provides for severe prison sentences for the publication of news deemed false by the authorities, starting from today
Rai - according to a note - suspends the journalistic services of its envoys and correspondents from the Russian Federation
.
"
The measure is necessary in order to protect the safety of journalists on the spot
and maximum freedom in information relating to the country - explains Rai -.
The news on what is happening in the Russian Federation will for the moment be provided on the basis of a plurality of sources by the Company's journalists working in neighboring countries and in the central editorial offices in Italy. "Yesterday, following the approval of a law that provides fines and imprisonment for those who spread 'fake news' on the conflict, the BBC had decided to withdraw its journalists from Russia and reopen shortwave broadcasts as in the days of Radio London. The Canadian public broadcaster CBC / Radio-Canada also had announced that it has temporarily suspended the work of its journalists in Russia.
The law criminalizing journalistic work "arises from the urgent need dictated by an unprecedented information war against Russia", explains the Kremlin spokesman.
After the blockade of Facebook, Twitter and independent news sites, various Western newspapers are leaving Moscow.
These include Bloomberg
, Abc and Cbs.
The BBC
withdraws its journalists from Russia and reopens shortwave broadcasts.
Elon Musk explains that "Starlink has been asked by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We won't do that except under fire. I'm sorry to be an absolutist of free speech."