“As an example, I can cite the material of the Deutsche Welle, an organization that has already come to the attention of our Commission. It cites the opinion of human rights defenders from Open Russia, an organization recognized as undesirable, that the laws we have adopted to counter fake news about coronavirus are allegedly restriction of freedom of speech. This information is not true. We also drew attention to the publications of such media as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Medusa, Current time, MBK-Media and several others. In particular, Medusa and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty disseminate information that in our country there is a shortage of ventilators, which is not true. Inappropriate publications on the work of Russian doctors in Italy and on the actions of law enforcement agencies in certain Russian regions in the light of the epidemic are also being disseminated,” said Vasilii Piskarev
Vasily Ivanovich
.
“Legislation on countering fake news is a world practice, and such publications are another example of double standards,” the parliamentarian added.
“All such publications will be thoroughly reviewed for their compliance with Russian law. I do not exclude the possibility that a Commission’s meeting on the issue of the West’s reaction to Russia’s fight against coronavirus will be held soon. The meeting may be held via teleconference using modern technologies,” said Vasilii Piskarev.
“Now we all, each country, must join forces to fight the virus and not use the common disaster as a ground for political confrontation. Moreover, the dissemination of fakes that spread panic or fear is also kind of a dangerous infection, and we must counteract it,” the Chairman of the Commission concluded.
