The Russian Federation鈥檚 malign activities and interference: UK statement to the OSCE, September 2024
Deputy Ambassador Brown condemns Russian disinformation and other forms of malign influence.
Thank you Madam Chair.聽聽聽聽聽
The United States has just informed this Council of steps it has taken to defend its democratic institutions in the face of a covert foreign influence operation by the Russian Federation.聽This follows other participating States鈥� interventions in this Council to highlight multiple forms of malign interference across our region in recent months.聽聽聽聽
Indeed the United Kingdom put Russia鈥檚 malign influence and interference onto the Permanent Council鈥檚 agenda in May聽and聽I thank the US for once again raising this matter.聽聽聽
All OSCE Participating States 鈥� including the UK 鈥� have made important commitments to uphold media freedom, including to foster 鈥渇ree, independent and pluralistic media鈥� as part of open societies and accountable governments.聽聽聽
The United Kingdom will continue to uphold media freedom, learning from best practice 鈥� including that shared by the Office of the Representative for Freedom of the Media.聽And we again call on all other participating States 鈥� particularly Russia and Belarus 鈥� to uphold OSCE commitments on media freedom, safety of journalists and freedom of expression.聽聽
At the same time the United Kingdom will also take action to defend our national and regional security against the full spectrum of threats emanating from Russia, working in partnership with others.聽This has included sanctioning Russian media outlets like Rossiya Segodnya and TV Novosti (which controls Russia Today) which spread disinformation and propaganda designed to incite violence and hatred towards Ukraine and its people.聽聽聽聽聽
Madam Chair. Our message to Russia is clear: stop this illegal war; withdraw your troops from Ukraine; cease your malign activities including disinformation and information manipulation; and, respect the OSCE principles and commitments that keep us all safe.